[Anatomo-histologic characteristics of the epiphysis of the female silver fox outside the breeding season].

The epiphysis of mature relatively wild silver foxes of various age living in the fur-farming farm have been studied during November--December. The organ mass (2.72 +/- 0.14 mg) has rather essential individual differences and its statistically significant changes with age are not revealed. There are not any connective septa deviding parenchyma of the organ into lobules. There is also not any definite division between the cortex and medulla. Under all histological methods of treatment the borders of the parenchymal cells are poorly defined. Nuclei of the pinealocytes can be divided into light and dark according to their coloration. The average diameter of the nuclei in the pinealocytes does not practically change with age, nor does the linear density of cellular elements arrangement. A definite individual variability is noted in amount of the cells including secretory granules. The phenomena mentioned demonstrate that the fox epiphysis maintains its constant level of physiological activity during the whole reproductive period of life.