Striated Muscle Eibers in the Pineal Body

Abstract

We have confirmed the presence of striated muscle fibres in the pineal body of Japanese cattle. They were found in the connective tissue bundles, which developed better in the distal portion of the organ. As they were very delicate and below several μ in thickness, and as they mingled with various components of fibroid form, it was not easy to discover them by ordinary methods. So, after some trials, we stained them with MASSON-GOLDNER's method, which gave the striated muscle-fibres a fresh red color and made them comparatively noticeable, and applied NICOL's prism to ascertain their striations. HEIDENHAIN's iron hematoxylin method was also used. In the pineal body taken from deer and goats, which also belong to the Ruminantia like the cattle, and in those taken from dog, cat, rabbit and adult men, we were not able to find any striated muscle-fibres by the same method.