The predominant cell type is the pinealocyte . These pale-staining cells are arranged as clumps separated by connective tissue septa. Pinealocytes have large, irregularly shaped, folded nuclei with prominent nucleoli. These cells are relatively inconspicuous and comprise a small percentage of the cell population. They are found around blood vessels and among groups of pinealocytes.
Interstitial cells have small, darkly staining, elongated nuclei.
These accretions contain calcium phosphate and accumulate with age. They are not considered a pathological change. Round mitochondria are found in all cortex cells but are most numerous in the fasciculata.