Glial cells in the pineal gland of mice and rats

Antigenic markers characteristic of astrocytes and their differentiative states (i.e., glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), vimentin, and M1 and C1 antigens) were investigated in the pineal gland of mouse and rat using double immunolabeling techniques. In both species the socalled interstitial cells as characterized by TEM were shown to be astrocytes, since they expressed vimentin, but neither fibronectin (a marker for fibroblasts and endothelial cells) nor the neuron-specific L1 antigen or tetanus toxin receptors. Subpopulations of vimentin-positive pineal astrocytes were also GFAP- and C1- antigen-positive. M1- antigenpositive cells were not detected.