Neonatal pinealectomy induces Purkinje cell loss in the cerebellum of the chick: a stereological study.

Melatonin plays an important role in certain physiological functions and morphological features of various structures. In the current study, the effects of pinealectomy on Purkinje cell number and morphological features of developing cerebellum in the chick were investigated using stereological methods. Fifteen Hybro Broiler newly hatched chicks were divided into three groups: a pinealectomized group (n = 5), sham-operated group (n = 5) and a non-pinealectomized control group (n = 5). Surgical pinealectomy was performed in 3-day-old chicks. In the 8th week, all animals were sacrificed for histopathological evaluation and subsequent stereological analysis. Each layer volume of molecular (+Purkinje cell), granular and white matter in the cerebellum was estimated in all animals. It was found that there was no significant difference for the volume of whole cerebellum and also molecular (+Purkinje cell) layer in these groups (P > 0.05). Nevertheless, the values of granular layer and white matter of sham-operated group were significantly different from those of control and pinealectomized animals (P < 0.01). It was also observed that pinealectomy significantly reduces the Purkinje cell number in cerebellar cortex (P < 0.01). The present study is the first stereological study to demonstrate the histomorphological effects of pinealectomy on the cerebellum in the chick. Our results suggest that pineal gland/melatonin might play an important role in morphological features of the developing cerebellum in the chick.