On the presence of conspicuous electron dense bodies in the pinealocytes of the pig

Summary The pinealocytes of the pig contain a large number of aldehydefuchsin positive granules. In order to determine their nature an ultrastructural study was carried out. Numerous bodies having a maximal diameter of about 1,600 nm were found. These elements showed a great variety of internal structure, ranging from a homogeneous content and amorphous dense aggregates to lamellate bodies. Although only a few of them displayed a positive reaction for acid phosphatase, their morphological appearance strongly suggests that they belong to the lysosomal system.Aided in part by a grant from the Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Técnicas de la República ArgentinaAssociate Professor of Embryology and Histology and Member of the Investigator Career of the CONICETProfessor and Chairman of Histology and Member of the Investigator Career of the CONICETCenter sponsored by the Universidad Nacional de La Plata and the Comisión de Investigaciones Cientificas de la Provincia de Buenos Aires