The capsule and its trabeculae are an active element of the human pineal gland's structure. During the examination of section material we observed that in part if the pineal glands the capsule was thickened and with fibrosis (TFC). The literature review as well as our observations made us to undertake the current study with the aim tofind out what is the role of the thick and fibrotic capsule on the macroscopic characteristics and the main histologic structures of the human pineal gland. We studied 134 pineal glands taken from bodies of people who died from both non-violent and violent cause of death. 95 of the pineal glands were taken from men and 39 from women, with mean age 52,57 years. Slices 5 µ thick were stained with hematoxylin and eosin and Van Gieson. The material was examined on light microscope and results analyzed with standard statistical methods. Cases with TFC represent 43,08% of all studied pineal glands. There is no statistically significant difference in the percentage of cases with TFC between the groups of those who died at 20-39 years of age and 40 and above. There is no statistically significant difference in the percentage of cases with TFC among men and women. The length width and weight of pineal glands with fibrose capsulae are bigger. Density is not changed. The percentage with gliosis is higher in the group of pineal glands with gentle capsulae. The rest of the variables are without changes.
Bhaskar, K. S ., S. R. Katti, A. G. Sathyanesan . The pineal gland of the Indian palm squirrel, Funambulus pennanti (Wroughton).- Arch. Anal. Microsc. Morphol. Exp., 75, 1986-1987, No 2, 117-125.
Boya , J ., J. Calvo . Structure and ultrastructure of the aging rat pineal gland.- J. Pineal Res., 1, 1984, No 1, 83-89.
Dominguez , S., R. S. Piezzi, L. Scardapane , J. A. Guzman . A light and electron microscopic study of the pineal gland of the viscacha (Lagostomus maximus maximus).- J. Pineal Res., 4, 1987, No 2, 211-219.
Gusek , W. Histology of the pineal gland in the elderly human.- Aktuelle Gerontol., 13, 1983, No 3, 111-114.
Hasegawa , A., K. Ohtsubo , W. Mori. Pineal gland in old age: quantitative and qualitative morphological study of 167 human autopsy cases.- Brain Res., 409. 1987, 343-349.
Humbert, W., F. Cuisinier , J. C. Voegel, P. Pevet. A possible role of collagen fibrils in the process of calcification observed in the capsule of the pineal gland in aging rats.- Cell Tissue Res., 288, 1997, No 3, 435-439.
Johnson , J. E ., Jr. Fine structural alterations in the aging rat pineal gland.- Exp. Aging Res., 6, 1980, No 2, 189-211.
Krstic , R. V. Scanning electron microscopic study of the freeze-fractured pineal body of the rat.- Cell Tissue Res., 201, 1979, No I, 129-135.
Lewczuk . B., J. Wojtkiewicz , M. Majewski, B. Przybylska-Gornowicz . Localization of NADPH-diaphorase activity in the pineal gland of the domestic pig.- Eolia Histochem. Cvtobiol., 39, 2001, No 2, 181-182.
Matsushima , S., Y. Sakai, Y. Hira. Peptidergic peripheral nervous systems in the mammalian pineal gland.- Microsc. Res. Techn., 46, 1999, No 4-5, 265-280.
Moller, M., J. Fahrenkrug , J. Hannibal. Innervation of the rat pineal gland by pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP)-immunoreactive nerve fibres.- Cell Tissue Res., 296, 1999, No 2, 247-257.
Phansuwan-Pujito, P ., W. Jitjaijamjang, M. Ebad i, P. Govitrapong , M. Moller. Opioidergic innervation of the tree shrew pineal gland: an immunohistochemical study.- J. Pineal Res., 24, 1998, No 4, 209-214.
Przybylska-Gornowicz , B., B. Lewczuk , M. Moller. Demonstration of nerve fibers containing the C-terminal flanking peptide of neuropeptide Y (CPON) in the pig pineal gland (Sus domesticus): an immunocytochemical study by light and electron microscopy.- Anat. Rec., 248, 1997, No 4, 576-582.
Email this article (Login required) 
