The posterior pituitary of the garden dormouse (Eliomys quercinus l.). Evidence of two types of neurosecretory axons on the basis of ultrastructural characteristics.

Ultrastructural examination of the posterior pituitary of the garden dormouse (Eliomys quercinus L) was carried out at different times in the annual cycle of this hibernating rodent. Obvious differences between experimental groups have not been observed, and the results presented here must be considered as general features of the garden dormouse posterior pituitary. Neurosecretory axons and endings can be divided into two types, according to different aspects of neurosecretory granules (NSG) and microvesicles (MV). One type contains spherical NSG with homogeneous cores and round MV. In the other type, NSG have various, often elongated, shapes. Their content shows two types of crystalline structures and most of the MV have flattened aspects. As it is very unlikely that this duality in NSG is a result of an artefact of fixation, three hypotheses are presented as explanation. The duality of NSG might be related either to their hormonal content (oxytocin or vasopressin) or to their degree of maturation. Moreover, both explanations may be valid. In the species studied, pituicytes often contain concentric lamellar structures of the endoplasmic reticulum (whorls), the significance of which remains obscure.