Department of Veterinary Physiology, College of Veterinary Science and A.H., NDUAT, Kumarganj, Faizabad (UP)-224 229, India.
* Corresponding author.
1 National Research Centre on Pig (ICAR), by lane No 2 (North), Panjabari road, Khanapara PO, Guwahati-781 022, Assam, India.
The comparative biochemistry of the pineal gland and the serum in 24 rats is reported in the present study. Glucose, urea, alkaline and acid phosphatases, aspartate and alanine aminotransferases, calcium and phosphorous values were estimated and these values were represented in terms of milligrams of protein. Glucose and urea values were about three and forty six times higher in the pineal tissue than in serum. The activity of phosphatases, aminotransferases were also higher in the pineal. The higher value of glucose and alkaline phosphatase activity is indicative high level of energy metabolism going on in the pinealocytes. The calcium: phosphorus ratio in the pineal gland and serum were 1.68:1.00 and 1.00:1.01 respectively. The present study indicates that the pineal gland represents a glandular tissue having high metabolism and cannot be considered as brain sand or vestige.
