| Abstract: | A refined method for the immunohistological demonstration of neuron-specific enolase (NSE) on 1- to 2-micron Epon-812 section gave characteristic staining of cerebral and cerebellar neurons. This method has made it possible to obtain a more detailed characterization of the heterogeneity of rat pinealocytes in the superficial portion of the rat pineal complex. Thirty adult male rats have been studied, five of which were used in a photometric analysis of the distribution of NSE. Pinealocytes stained either intensely or weakly for the NSE antigen and exhibited an uneven distribution within a given region. Further analysis of the gland revealed a distal to proximal decrease in stain intensity. It is suggested that the more strongly stained cells, being concentrated distally, are under sympathetic control. |
