Microvascularisation of the pineal gland in the rat

Abstract

The authors investigated the pineal blood supply in the rat, including microvascularisation, using different methods of vascular corrosion cast technique and two methods of inspection: scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and light microscope (LM). The animals were divided into three groups and injected with two types of casting media. It was found that the pineal gland is highly vascularised. Arterial supply is from the branches of the medial posterior choroidal artery which originates from the posterior cerebral artery. All veins drain into the great cerebral vein directly without forming the pineal vein. However, we noticed a short venous trunk between the great cerebral vein and the confluence of the sinuses. This venous trunk had not been described in literature till now and does not have a name in anatomical nomenclature. The authors showed the relationship of the pineal gland to adjacent venous vessels.