Presence of melanin in the cat pineal gland

Light- and electron-microscopic features of pigmented cells in the cat pineal gland are described. These cells were observed throughout postnatal life from the second postnatal day to the oldest cats studied (up to 13 years old). No apparent relationship was observed among the amount of pigment and the animal age or sex. Pigmented cells showed a preferential localization at the ventral surface of the pineal gland near its distal end. The pineal pigment was histochemically identified as melanin. Pineal pigment granules showed ultrastructural features similar to melanocyte melanin granules.