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Morphology of pineal glands in human foetuses and infants with brain lesions
Milena Laure-Kamionowska1, Danuta Maślińska, Krzysztof Deregowski
1Department of Developmental Neuropathology, Medical Research Centre, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warszawa, Poland. milenak@cmdik.pan.pl
Insights
Developing pineal glands are highly susceptible to injury, showing significant morphological changes in most fetuses and infants with brain lesions. Impaired pineal gland development can reduce infant resistance to environmental factors.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Biology
- Pathology
Background:
- The pineal gland regulates homeostasis and body rhythms, crucial for fetal growth and newborn adaptation.
- Its function is vital for adapting newborns to environmental conditions, with changing requirements during development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate morphological changes in the pineal gland of fetuses and infants with brain lesions.
- To understand the susceptibility of the developing pineal gland to injury.
Main Methods:
- Autopsy-based histopathological examination of pineal glands in fetuses and infants.
- Correlation of pineal gland lesions with brain parenchyma lesions.
Main Results:
- Pineal gland parenchyma showed susceptibility to injury in most autopsied fetal and infantile cases.
- Morphological changes were observed in 90% of brains, with 100% of cases having infections.
- Common lesions included hemorrhagic, necrotic, and cystic changes, often concomitant with brain lesions.
Conclusions:
- The developing pineal gland is highly susceptible to injury.
- Failure in normal pineal gland development and melatonin production can decrease resistance in newborns and children.
- Pineal gland lesions are associated with brain lesions in fetuses and infants.
Abstract:
The pineal gland is an organ involved in regulation of homeostasis and body rhythms. It plays an important role in the growth foetuses and adaptation of newborns to new environmental conditions. The requirements of foetuses and newborns progressively change during development. The purpose of the study was to evaluate morphological changes of pineal glands in foetuses and infants with brain lesions. The results of our study showed that parenchyma of developing pineal glands was susceptible to injury in most autopsied foetal and infantile cases. Morphological changes in pineal glands were found in 90% of autopsied brains but 100% of the cases had infections. The lesions in the pineal included mainly haemorrhagic, necrotic and cystic changes. In our autopsied foetuses and children, morphological changes in pineal glands were concomitant with various lesions of brain parenchyma. All results of our study lead to the conclusion that the pineal gland during its development is very susceptible to injury. The failure of normal pineal gland development and subsequent impaired production of melatonin decrease resistance of newborns and children to various environmental harmful agents.
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