Serotonin Content of the Pineal Glands of Man and Monkey

Abstract

GIARMAN et al. have demonstrated the presence of certain neurohumours and some of their associated enzymes in the bovine pineal gland^1,2. While determining the relative distribution of serotonin in specific areas of human brain, we have obtained the pineal glands of deceased mental patients. The glands were removed within 24 hr. post mortem, and kept at the temperature of dry ice, usually for 24 hr., when extraction of serotonin was carried out. Only minimal losses are encountered with such a procedure. The pineals were homogenized with 2 ml. of isotonic salt solution and the amine extracted with 95 per cent acetone by a modification of the method of Amin, Crawford and Gaddum³. Estimation of the content of serotonin in the extracts was made by assay on the heart of Venus mercenaria ⁴. For purposes of comparison freshly excised pineal glands from non-psychotic deceased patients and from 17 rhesus monkeys were treated and assayed in the same manner. Table 1 summarizes the results presented here and includes some values obtained previously² from freshly excised and fresh-frozen bovine glands.