Alden B. Dawson

Differentiation of Two Classes of Acidophiles in the Anterior Pituitary of the Female Rabbit and Cat

A differential stain for the anterior pituitary of mammals, based directly on Heidenhains ‘azan’ modification of Mallorys connective tissue stain has been devised. Tissue is fixed for 24 hours in a saturated solution of corrosive sublimate in physiological saline (90 parts) and formalin (10 parts) and washed directly in 70% alcohol for 48 hours. Sections are treated on the slide with a 3% solution of potassium bichromate for 12 hours. Two classes of acidophiles are demonstrated: one which stains selectively with azocarmine; and the ordinary acidophile which stains with orange G. The special acidophile has been demonstrated in the female rabbit and cat but has not been found in the mouse or rat.

Some observations on the primitive and definitive erythrocytes of the developing chick

SummaryThe cytological changes in the primitive and definitive erythrocytes of the incubating chick have been followed. Observations have been made on the nucleoli, vital granules, mitochondria,Golgi apparatus, reticulum ofSinigaglia and the reticulation patterns of the basophilic substance.The cells of the primitive and definitive lines are ordinarily readily distinguished from one another. Data are included on the rate of disappearance of the primitive cells from the circulation. They may persist as long as two weeks after hatching.Giant primitive erythrocytes are common during the first week of incubation. The cells have one, two three or four nuclei. The nuclearplasma relationship is maintained somewhere near a constant. These atypical cells are due to aberrations in mitosis.Data on the percentage of mitosis in both types of erythrocytes are also included.The initial activity of the spleen and bone-marrow is reflected in the blood stream. There is a distinct rise in the proportion of young definitive erythrocytes.An attempt is made to correlate the findings ofHall (1934) on the changing affinity of the hemoglobin for oxygen with the changing blood picture. The primitive line does not persist long enough to account for the phenomenon. It is suggested, however, that the hemoglobin of the erythrocytes produced by the yolk sac may differ from that of the cells produced by the spleen and bone-marrow.

Differential Staining of the Anterior Pituitary Gland of the Cat

The terms “acidophile” and “basophile” as applied to the two recognized types of chromophilic cells of the anterior pituitary have been sanctioned by long usage. Nevertheless, these cells do not always give a specific reaction to acid and basic dyes respectively. The difficulty of classification has been further complicated by the demonstration of an additional tinctorial type in the female rabbit and cat which has been provisionally classed as a modified acidophile. This distinction is based on the differential staining reaction obtained with Heidenhains “azan” technic following sublimate-formalin fixation, the standard acidophile reacting with orange G, the modified type with azocarmine.Both of these cells are stained with copper hematoxylin, Heidenhains iron hematoxylin, Mallorys phosphotungstic acid hematoxylin and Kultschitzkys acetic hematoxylin. However, Hansens chroroalum hematoxylin stains the basophiles intensely and also reacts very slightly with the so-called modified acidophile.The orang...

Growth of deciduomata in adrenalectomized rats.

Summary and conclusions Both histologic and gravimetric data show conclusively that the growth and subsequent regression of deciduomata in bilaterally adrenalectomized pseudopregnant rats are comparable in every respect to those formed in intact rats. Substitution therapy is not required when the adrenal glands are removed 12 hours after electrical stimulation of the uterine cervix.