Organ culture of the goldfish pineal body. An ultrastructural and biochemical study.

The ultrastructure and biochemistry of the goldfish pineal organ were examined in explants cultured for 1, 3, and 6 days. All four cell types (photoreceptor, supportive, ganglion, phagocytic) were identified; they exhibited many of the characteristics of these cells in vivo. Exceptions included a gradual disorganization of the outer segments and reduction of synaptic ribbons in photoreceptors with time in culture. In addition, there was a marked proliferation of endoplasmic reticulum in both photoreceptor and supportive cells. The indoles 5-hydroxytryptophan, serotonin, 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid, 5-methoxytryptophol, and melatonin were separated in explants by high performance liquid chromatography using electrochemical detection. Serotonin levels could be depleted by p-chlorophenylalanine and elevated by nialamide or by adding 5-hydroxytryptophan to the culture medium. These findings suggest that organ culture may be a useful model for study of regulatory processes related to the photoneuroendocrine functions of the teleost pineal organ.