Study of Pineal gland concernments in human brain using high resolution 2D/3D imaging techniques

The pineal gland (PG), composed mainly by pinealocytes (neurosecretory cells that secrete serotonin and melatonin), is a central structure in the circadian system, which produces melatonin under the control of the central clock, the suprachiasmatic nucleus [1]. Calcareous deposits, which are known as pineal calcifications, are a normal physiologic phenomenon in PG [2]. Two major forms of pineal calcifications have been observed: (i) polycrystalline complexes (order of hundreds 100 micrometers), often called mulberry like structures hydroxyapatite or concretions, and (ii) small, well defined crystals of the order 10-20 micron. Calcium content and pineal concretions have been studied for a long time because of their association with aging [3] and neurodegenerative diseases [4, 5]. Some studies have shown that pineal calcification is significantly higher in presence of Alzheimer diseases (AD) [4,5]. Researchers suggest that the PG's calcified deposits are associated with decreased number of functioning pinealocytes and reduced melatonin productions.In this framework, we characterized the calcifications structure of the human brain pineal glands and we studied the vascularization and the connectivity tissue structure of the pineal gland as a function of the concrementes density. In particular, in the framework of the Russia-Italy bilateral- project CNR/RFBR (2018- 2020) we have investigated the hydroxyapatite crystals and structure of soft tissue in human pineal glands at different ages with high resolution X ray phase contrast tomography and high resolution 2D techniques This study will allow to shed light on the role of the human epiphysis in the development of neural degenerative disorders, such as AD, and to develop criteria for early diagnosis of these diseases. 1. ERLICH, Stephanie S.; et al. Journal of neurosurgery, 1985, 63.3: 321-341 2. Welsh MG Pineal Res Rev,1985, 3:41-68 3. Hasegawa, A., et al. Brain Res 1987, 409, 343 4. W. Humber et al, Cell and Tissue Research Volume 263, Issue 3, 593-596 (1991) 5. Mahlberg, R., et al.. Neurobiology of aging, 2008, 29.2: 203-209