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  • Title: Inclusion bodies in pinealocytes of the cotton rat (Sigmodon hispidus). An ultrastructural study and X-ray microanalysis.
    Author: Karasek M, Smith NK, King TS, Petterborg LJ, Hansen JT, Reiter RJ.
    Journal: Cell Tissue Res; 1983; 232(2):413-20. PubMed ID: 6309397.
    Abstract:
    Pinealocytes of the cotton rat (Sigmodon hispidus) often contain large (2-6 micron diameter) intracytoplasmic inclusions, the function of which is not known. These inclusions may represent nucleolus-like bodies, mineral deposits, secretory products or viral inclusions. In this study these inclusions were classified as type A, B or C inclusions based on the amount of electron-dense material interspersed within the finely granular material comprising the bulk of these inclusions. Each type of inclusion was analyzed by X-ray microanalysis and enzymatic proteinaceous digestion. X-ray microanalysis of these inclusions differed both quantitatively and semiquantitatively from that of human or gerbil pineal concretions, the latter two of which are extracellular deposits. Pronase, a proteolytic enzyme, digested the electron-dense material only after longer times of tissue exposure to this enzyme in contrast to the easily digested, finely granular matrix-like material of these inclusions. Such intrapinealocytic inclusions have only been observed in the cotton rat. Their functional significance remains unknown.
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