RNA Sequencing of Single Pineal Cells

The pineal gland presents a powerful genetic tool to study a broad range of physiological processes. It has been instrumental as a model in understanding transduction processes and daily changes in gene expression and holds great promise in understanding development. Currently, the field is at an exciting point, with methods available for the isolation of individual cells and, as presented here, the preparation of these single cells for sequencing. The resulting cellular transcriptomes have played a role in categorizing cells in the pineal gland, with current estimates including two types of pinealocytes, three types of astrocytes, two types of microglia, and two types of endothelial cells, including the poorly understood vascular and meningeal cell. The methods described in this chapter will serve to support and advance cellular studies of the pineal gland in the twenty-first century.