[Pineal gland and extrapineal melatonin in visceral organs during natural human aging].

In order to define the functional morphology of the pineal gland (epiphysis) and to reveal extrapineal sources of melatonin (MT) during human aging, biopsy samples obtained from 175 male persons aged 16 to 84 were examined. The dynamics of MT-containing cells in the stomach, intestine, bronchi, prostate and the non-endocrinal cells of the adrenals were described.