Catecholamine, indolealkylamine and calcium levels of human pineal glands in various clinical conditions.

One hundred and forty-four human pineal glands obtained at necropsy were analysed for their content of catecholamines, indolealkylamines and calcium and the findings related to sex, age, terminal illness and medication. A preliminary study of 45 pineal organs revealed no significant differences in amine pattern in glands removed 6-48 hours post mortem. A statistically significant difference of pineal weight, calcium and amine content could not be detected in glands of age-matched groups of male and female patients who died suddenly without apparent clinical illness. A highly significant correlation between pineal weight and calcium content was established in patients older than 60 years. Considerable variability of amine levels existed in all groups of patients. Adrenaline as well as noradrenaline were detected in most glands. This finding was corroborated by the formation of radioactively labelled adrenaline from noradrenaline and 14C-S-adenosylmethionine by extracts from human pineals. Dopamine was most abundant in glands from patients dying of malignant tumours. The content of the indolealkylamines (5-hydroxytryptamine and melatonine) varied between a few nanograms to 21 mug/g tissue. The highest mean calcium content was detected in glands of patients who died of renal disease associated with hypertension.