[Size of the cell nucleus and nucleus-cytoplasm relations in pinealocytes in humans of middle and advanced age].

In the presented light microscope study, the question was examined of whether the size of the nucleus and nucleolus, respectively the nuclear:cytoplasmic ratio of pinealocytes, are changed in different human age groups. We investigated the pineals of 30 to 40-year-old men in comparison with those from patients who were older than 70 years. The investigation was performed with smears of the pineal gland which were stained according to Pappenheim (May-Grünwald and Giemsa method). The results show that the nuclear size of the pinealocytes of the younger men (30 to 40-year-olds) is 92 micron 2 and is significantly larger than in the older patients; in this age group the nuclear area is only 75 micron 2. The cell size of the pinealocytes shows no differences between both age groups. From these data a nuclear:cytoplasmic ratio of 1:1.77 was calculated for the 30 to 40-year-old men. In the age group of the over 70-year-olds, this ratio is significantly decreased to 1:2.13. Concerning the nucleoli in the 30 to 40-year-old men a value of 10.1 micron 2 was measured, which is significantly different from the 7.8 micron 2 for the over 70-year-old patients. On the basis of well-known criteria of nuclear size and nuclear:cytoplasmic ratio, our study underlines the higher functional significance of the pineal gland in the younger decades of life.