4
J. N. BALL AND BRIDGET I. BAKER
By this is always meant the staining properties of the specific secretory
granules elaborated and stored within the cytoplasm. The background
colorations of the cytoplasm, or of other inclusions such as lysosomes, are
not relevant to the tinctorial classification of pituitary cell types. Since it
is obvious and readily demonstrable that the method of fixation can
greatly influence the reactions of every type of cell to standard staining
techniques (see Racadot, 1963a; Schreibman, 1964) , and since the affinity
of the secretory granules for the various dyes in common use will be
affected by the staining procedure applied, wherever possible the cell
types will be described from material fixed in sublimated Bouin-Hollande
(Herlant, 1956; Kraicer et al., 1967) and stained by the various procedures introduced by Herlant (1956, 1960; Kraicer et al., 1967), in particular Herlant’s Alizarin blue tetrachrome ( Aliz B ) , periodic acid-Schiff
with orange G (PAS-OG), and the combination oxidation-Alcian bluePAS-orange G ( Ox-AB-PAS-OG). The central role played by the PAS
procedure in pituitary studies has often been emphasized (Herlant, 1964,
1965; Purves, 1966): In essence, this technique distinguishes cells with
glycoprotein-containing granules ( PAS positive ) from cells with nonglycoprotein granulation ( PAS negative ) , a distiixtion approximately corresponding to the older division between basophils and acidophils and
often marked by the terms “mucoid cells” (PAS + ve) and “serous cells”
(PAS - ve). The importance of this distinction for pituitary studies
stems from the chemical information we have about the various hormones
extracted from mammalian pituitary glands, some of which are glycoproteins [gonadotropins, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) , luteinizing
hormone (LH) , and thyrotropin or thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH)]
while others are peptides or proteins with no carbohydrate moiety [prolactin, somatotropin (STH) or growth hormone (GH); corticotropin,
adenocorticotropin or adrenocorticotropic hormone ( ACTH ) ; and intermedin or melanophore-stimulating hormone ( MSH ) ]. Another important
technique is aldehyde fuchsin ( AF ) , usually preceded by oxidation,
which has a less secure histochemical basis ( Herlant, 1965).
11. THE PITUITARY GLAND IN TELEOSTS
A. General Organization
The organization of the teleostean gland has been the subject of many
reviews (e.g., Pickford and Atz, 1957; Olivereau, 1954, 1963b; Stahl,
1963; Wingstrand, 1966a), and we shall concern ourselves mainly with
J. N. BALL AND BRIDGET I. BAKER
By this is always meant the staining properties of the specific secretory
granules elaborated and stored within the cytoplasm. The background
colorations of the cytoplasm, or of other inclusions such as lysosomes, are
not relevant to the tinctorial classification of pituitary cell types. Since it
is obvious and readily demonstrable that the method of fixation can
greatly influence the reactions of every type of cell to standard staining
techniques (see Racadot, 1963a; Schreibman, 1964) , and since the affinity
of the secretory granules for the various dyes in common use will be
affected by the staining procedure applied, wherever possible the cell
types will be described from material fixed in sublimated Bouin-Hollande
(Herlant, 1956; Kraicer et al., 1967) and stained by the various procedures introduced by Herlant (1956, 1960; Kraicer et al., 1967), in particular Herlant’s Alizarin blue tetrachrome ( Aliz B ) , periodic acid-Schiff
with orange G (PAS-OG), and the combination oxidation-Alcian bluePAS-orange G ( Ox-AB-PAS-OG). The central role played by the PAS
procedure in pituitary studies has often been emphasized (Herlant, 1964,
1965; Purves, 1966): In essence, this technique distinguishes cells with
glycoprotein-containing granules ( PAS positive ) from cells with nonglycoprotein granulation ( PAS negative ) , a distiixtion approximately corresponding to the older division between basophils and acidophils and
often marked by the terms “mucoid cells” (PAS + ve) and “serous cells”
(PAS - ve). The importance of this distinction for pituitary studies
stems from the chemical information we have about the various hormones
extracted from mammalian pituitary glands, some of which are glycoproteins [gonadotropins, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) , luteinizing
hormone (LH) , and thyrotropin or thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH)]
while others are peptides or proteins with no carbohydrate moiety [prolactin, somatotropin (STH) or growth hormone (GH); corticotropin,
adenocorticotropin or adrenocorticotropic hormone ( ACTH ) ; and intermedin or melanophore-stimulating hormone ( MSH ) ]. Another important
technique is aldehyde fuchsin ( AF ) , usually preceded by oxidation,
which has a less secure histochemical basis ( Herlant, 1965).
11. THE PITUITARY GLAND IN TELEOSTS
A. General Organization
The organization of the teleostean gland has been the subject of many
reviews (e.g., Pickford and Atz, 1957; Olivereau, 1954, 1963b; Stahl,
1963; Wingstrand, 1966a), and we shall concern ourselves mainly with