Ultrastructure of the pineal gland after gamma-irradiation under conditions of inhibition of adrenocortical function.

Electron microscopy showed that whole-body gamma-irradiation in sublethal doses led to the appearance of injuries in pinealocytes, glial cells, and vessels of the pineal gland in rats. Limitation of the nonspecific effect of gamma-irradiation via inhibition of adrenocortical function with metopirone in physiological doses reduced the radiation-induced ultrastructural damage to the pineal gland.