[Statistical weight study of the human pineal body, hypophysis and brain]. / Etude pondérale statistique de la glande pinéale, de l'hypophyse et de l'encéphale humains.

The ponderal statistical study of the human pineal gland (899 cases), of the hypophysis (465 cases) and of the encephalon (923 cases) shows: 1) An important ponderal difference between the two sexes for the hypophysis (heavier in women) and for the encephalon (heavier in men) while the weight of the pineal gland is the same in men and in women. 2) An important ponderal involution during the last decades of a lifetime for the encephalon in both sexes, more precocius in women, a tardy involution for the female hypophysis and a nearly inexistant involution for the pineal gland in both men and women. 3) A marked involution of the pineal gland as well as a weight diminution of the encephalon in cases of hepatic disorders, (the largest number of cases in our series concerning alcoholic hepatic cirrhosis) while the hypophysis remains unchanged. The two endocranian glands show important ponderal differences of evolution in the course of a lifetime, in both sexes and in certain pathological conditions, differences that can possibly be explained by their distinct embryological origin.

[Modification of the deep pineal after ablation of the superficial epiphysis in the golden hamster]. / Modifications de l'épiphyse profonde après ablation de l'épiphyse superificielle chez le hamster doré.

In various species (among Rodents: Mesocricetus auratus, Cricetus cricetus, Mus musculus, Meriones libycus, M. shawi et M. crassus; among Cheiroptera: Artibeus jamaicensis etc), the pineal complex is formed by two different portions one superficial situated under the cerebral dura and one deep portion situated between the habenular and posterior commissures. Superficial and deep portions are separated by a tractus of fibers and some pineal cells. Superficial epiphysectomy in the Mesocricetus auratus determines an increase in volume of the deep pineal. The nuclear diameter is also enlarged in this case. The functions of both superficial and deep pineal seem to be closely related. Superficial epiphysectomy is not followed by involution or hypoactivity of the deep pineal. Superficial epiphysectomy also determines changes in the subcommissural and subfornical organs.

[Study on the pineal gland of ungulates]. / Recherches sur la glande pinéale des ongulés.

Study of the pineal gland of 91 Ungulates belonging to 55 species shows the constant presence of calcarine concretions of various importance. These concretions develop in the walls of vessels that first undergo a preliminary transformation characterized by the presence of alcian blue or PAS positive substances. In nearly all cases, the presence of alcian blue positive cells with processes (distinct from mastocytes) can be found in the pineal gland of ungulates. These elements sometimes contain fine calcarine granulations that probably are the site of origin of acervuli. These observations were extended to several marsupials, carnivora, pinnipeda and perissodactyles.

[Demonstration of pineal gland and pituitary involution in mice poisoned with carbon tetrachloride]. / Mise en évidence d'une involution de la glande pinéale et de l'hypophyse chez des souris intoxiquées au tétrachlorure de carbone.

Ingestion of carbone tetrachloride by male C3H Orleans mice determines an involution of the pineal gland and of the hypophysis, as well as extensive lesions of the hepatic parenchyma. There may exist in these animals a higher blood-level of glucocorticoids, as this has been shown to be the case in men suffering from cirrhosis or hepatitis. Involution of the pineal gland in cases of stress, as has been shown by various authors, would result from an entirely different mechanism, that is by increased secretion of corticoadrenal hormones.

[The human pineal gland. Study performed on 747 glands]. / Contribution à l'etude de la glande pinéale humaine. Etude faite à l'aide de 747 glandes.

The study of 747 human pineal glands shows that the weight of this organ is extremely variable. This weight shows seasonal variations. The weight of the pineal is identical in cancerous and non cancerous patients. It is lower (the difference being statistically highly significative) in a great majority of hepatic diseases. Microscopic study of 54 of these pineal glands (those obtained 2 to 6 hours after death) shows that the pineal concretions may have a variable origin: the vessel walls, the interlobular connective tissue, and certain pinealocytes that can then be colored by alcian blue.

[Interspecies study of statistical correlations existing between the pineal gland size and weight and brain and body weight in two groups of mammals. Interspecies study of correlations between the pineal gland and brain in the rat and in man]. / Etude interspécifique des corrélations statistiques existant entre le volume ou le poids de la glande pinéale et les poids encéphalique et somatique dans deux groupes de mammifères. Etude intraspécifique des corrélations entre glande pinéale et encéphale chez le rat et chez l'homme.

Network analysis procedures have been applied to study the cell patterns on the dorso medial and ventral lateral formation of the inferior colliculus of different species, i-e: Cat, Tat and Monkey. The results suggests the existence of important interspecific differences, more particularly in the primates. These differences are more obvious in the dorso medial formation. The functionnal implications of these results are discussed.

[Study of correlations linking the volumes of the hypophyseal lobes and the epiphysis to body and brain weights in Chiroptera]. / Etude des corrélations liant les volumes des lobes hypophysaires et de l'epiphyse au poids somatique et au poids de l'encéphale chez les chiroptères

Study of the correlations binding the different lobes of the hypophysis and the pineal gland to body weight and brain weight in Chiroptera shows that the hypophysis is better correlated to body and brain weight than the pineal gland, fact that we already observed in Rodents and Primates. The allometry coefficient (M.R.A.) related to body weight varies from 0,80 to 0,98 for the hypophyseal lobes. The value of this coefficient for the pineal gland (1,60) is greater than that found (1,009) in another group of Mammals (Insectivora, Lemurians and Primates). It is less sure as the important variations in volume of this gland determine a lower correlation coefficient.

[Comparison of the intraspecific growth of the endocranial organs (hypophyseal lobes, pineal gland, SFO) in the white Wistar rat. Rattus norvegicus (Berkenhout), with their interspecific growth in the rodents]. / Comparison de la croissance intraspécifique des organes endocraniens (lobes hypophysaires, glande pinéale, OSF) du rat blanc Wistar Rattus Norvegicus (Berkenhout) avec leur croissance interspécifique chez les rongeurs

The intraspecific growth of various endocranian organs (hypophysis, pineal gland and SFO) in the Rat compared to a group of Rodents shows that their allometry coefficient/somatic weight is : close to isometry for the anterior and intermediate lobes of the hypophysis which is suitable for endocrine glands; lower and close to that found for the relation brain weight/somatic weight for the nervous lobe in the Rat and in Rodents; and extremely low (0,33) for the SFO in the Rat, which is comparable to that found in Rodents (0,44). The allometry coefficient found for the pineal gland is not comparable to that found in Rodents (1,25). Many facts (important intra and interspecific variations, existence of species or individuals deprived of pineal gland) seem to indicate that this gland is not related to an essential somatic function.

[Allometry and linear correlation coefficients binding the volumes of the different pituitary gland lobes, of the pituitary gland, of the subfornical organ and of the pineal gland to body weight and to hypothalamic volume in Rodents and in a Lagomorphe]. / Coefficients d'allométrie et de corrélation linéaire liant les volumes des différents lobes hypophysaires, de l'hypophyse, de l'organe subfornical et de la glande pinéale au poids somatique et au volume de l'hypothalamus chez les rongeurs et un lagomorphe

The morphometric study of the hypophysis, of the subfornical organ and of the pineal gland of 41 Rodents and one Lagomorphe shows that the anterior lobe of the hypophysis as well as the total hypophysis are better correlated to body weight than to the volume of the hypothalamus, while it is the contrary for the pars nervosa. The volume of the intermediate lobe varies very much from one species to another for the same body weight. The high value of the allometry coefficient of the pineal gland on somatic weight (1.25) is due to the fact that the heavy Rodents of our temperate climates have a large epiphysis while the small african Rodents possess a small pineal gland.

[Involution of gonadotrophic cells of the pituitary gland in the male frog, Rana esculenta, after section of the pituitary stem]. / Involution des cellules gonadotropes de l'hypophyse chez la Grenouille mâle, Rana esculenta, après section de la tige hypophysaire

One and two months after section of the hypophyseal stalk in the male frog. Rana esculenta, and involution of numerous gonadotrophic cells, contrasting with the normal aspect of the eosinophilic cells can be observed.

[Study of human pineal gland with scanning electron microscope and using Castaing's microsound]. / Etude de la glande pinéale humaine au microscope è balayage et à l'aide de la microsonde de Castaing

Scanning electron microscopy of the human pineal gland showed two types of concretions, both which may be covered by micro-concretions, as well as the irregular surface of a cyst and group of formations considered as the endings of epiphyseal cell processes in a perivascular space.

[Correlations linking hypophysis and epiphysis volumes to body weight and brain weight in Simian and in man]. / Corrélations liant les volumes hypophysaires et épiphysaires au poids somatique et au poids encéphalique chez les simiens et l'homme

The human hypophyseal and epiphyseal volumes are quantitatively conformable to those of the simians studied. In simians and man, the hypophysis is better correlated to body weight and to brain weight than the epiphysis, as already observed by us in other Mammals (Insectivora, Prosimiano, Rodents and Chiroptera). The pineal gland must be correlated to a non essential somatic function that varies from one species to another at constant somatic weight.

[Study of the correlations between the volumes of the hypophysis, the epiphysis and the subfornical organ to the somatic weight and the volume of the hypothalamus in rodents]. / Etude des correlations liant les volumes de l'hypophyse, de l'épiphyse et de l'osf au poids somatique et au volume de l'hypothalamus chez les rongeurs

The correlations between volume of the hypophysis, of the epiphysis and of the subfornical organ to body weight and volume of the hypothalamus were studied on 193 rodents belonging to 41 species. Concerning the volume of the hypophyseal lobes the regression slopes of Rodentia occupy an intermediate position between those of Isectivora and Prosimians studied by BAUCHOT. The volume of the epiphysis increases more rapidly with the weight of the body than that of the hypophyseal lobes, the volume of the subfornical organ increases on the contrary more slowly.

[Comparative morphometric data on the epiphysis, the subfornical organ, and the anterior pituitary gland in 2 groups of pure strain Wistar female rats, SPF or conventional]. / Données morphométriques comparatives sur l'épiphyse, l'organe subfornical et le lobe antérieur de l'hypophyse dans deux groupes de rattes de souche Wistar pure, conventionnelles et EOPS

In SPF female rats, the pineal gland is less voluminous and its cell-nuclei are smaller than those of conventionnal female rats. This confirms (with the voluminous adrenals previously reported) the stressing action of the absence of pathogenic germs on these animals. The anterior lobe of the hypophysis is slightly smaller and subfornical organ a little larger than in conventionnal female rats.

[Morphometric data on pineal gland of loir (Glis glis) and lerot (Elioyms quercinus) during the annual cycle]. / Données morphométriques sur la glande pinéale du loir (Clis glis) et du lérot (Eliomys quercinus) au cours du cycle anuel

The important involution of the pineal gland of Glis glis and Eliomys quercinus during the months of july and august belongs to a polyglandular involution (anterior lobe of the hypophysis, male and female genital glands) characteristic of estivation.