John E. Norvell

Effects of Castration, Blinding, and the Pineal Gland on the Harderian Glands of the Male Golden Hamster

The Harderian glands of the golden hamster exhibit a sexual dimorphism manifested by acinar cells of one type and the presence of porphyrin granules in the female, and by acinar cells of two types and

Cholinergic Innervation of the Autotransplanted Canine Kidney

The degeneration of acetylcholinesterase-positive nerve fibers in 11 canine renal autotransplants was investigated with the thiocholine method of Karnovsky and Roots as modified for cryostat sections. Seven renal hila were also examined by silver impregnation and thiocholine techniques. Total denervation was demonstrated in only 3 of 11 autotransplants; the other 8 showed variable degrees of degeneration, from almost total to very little. Acetylcholinesterasepositive nerve fibers accompanied the renal, interlobar, arcuate, and interlobular arteries and the afferent arterioles and vasa recta. Acetylcholinesterase activity was apparent in glomeruli but was greatly diminished or abolished by renal perfusion with normal saline before histologic procedures were begun. Discrete autonomic ganglia were seen in the renal hila. We believe these acetylcholinesterase-positive ganglion cells (also found scattered along hilar nerve bundles) are the source of the nerve fibers which remain intact and viable following vascular division during transplantation.

Adrenergic and cholinergic innervation of the hamster Harderian gland.

Examination of Harderian glands of adult male and female golden hamsters by appropriate histochemical techniques reveals that adrenergic nerves are associated only with the blood vessels. Acetylcholinesterase-positive fibers are present in the connective tissue surrounding the gland, along the ducts, and among the acini.

The Use of Dark-Field Microscopy for the Visualization of Acetylcholinesterase in Cholinergic Neurons

Acetylcholinesterase (ACEase) was investigated histochemically in hearts, kidneys and urinary bladders of the following animals: man, dog, cat, hamster, rat, tree shrew (Tupaia glis) and lesser bush baby (Galago senegalensis). Slides examined with both bright-field and dark-field illumination showed that use of dark-field microscopy greatly enhanced the visibility of sites of ACEase activity. ACEase-positive nerve fibers which had low enzyme activity were difficult to identify by brght-field, due to their pale staining, but these fibers were easily identified as iridescent structures in the dark-field.