Catalase-like crystals in parathyroid gland cells of Rana temporaria L.

Summary Crystalline inclusions in parathyroid gland cell nuclei of Rana temporaria were studied by electron microscopy using a specimen tilting stage. Images were analysed by optical diffraction. Results were compared with X-ray and electron microscopic data of trigonal bovine liver catalase to which a striking resemblance of the inclusions was found.We are grateful to Professor R. Mosebach (Giessen) for discussions, to the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft for a grant (La 229/4) and instruments and to Messrs. Spindler & Hoyer, Göttingen and Messrs. Rank Precision Instruments, Nürnberg for putting apparatus at our disposal and performing diffraction photographs.     

Fine structural and enzyme histochemical observations on the dorsal tail tubercle of Mertensiella caucasica (Urodela,Amphibia)

Summary Dorsal tubercle and skin of Mertensiella caucasica have been investigated with the electron microscope and enzyme histochemical methods. The epidermis of the tubercle consists of 8–9 cell layers, that of normal dorsal skin of 5–6. The tubercle is filled with large mucous glands which are surrounded by an almost complete layer of smooth muscle cells (myoepithelial cells). Their glandular cells undergo cyclical changes and are characterized by specific secretory granules, which differ from those of the relatively small mucous glands of the normal dorsal skin.In the connective tissue of the tubercle a relatively rich supply of nerve fibres has been found, which in part contain synaptic and dense core vesicles or accumulations of mitochondria. In the normal dorsal skin nerve fibres occur less frequently.The following enzymes have been demonstrated in the mucous glands of the tubercle: SDH, acid phosphatase, unspecific esterases, E 600 resistant esterase.The tubercle seems to stimulate the female cloaca chemically and mechanically.     

Intracerebral distribution pattern of radioactive morphine and morphine-like drugs after intraventricular and intrathecal injection

Summary The intracerebral distribution patterns of ¹⁴C-morphine, ³H-dihydromorphine, and ³H-fentanyl after intraventricular injection were studied autoradiographically in rats and rabbits. The extent of permeation into the ventricular wall was measured at different times after injection. The hydrophilic morphine and dihydromorphine could be demonstrated within the tissue up to 4 hours. They seemed to be retained within the gray matter and hindered in crossing fiber bundles. On the other hand, the lipophilic fentanyl was quickly removed from the brain but remained relatively longer demonstrable within the white matter. Also, after intrathecal injection of ¹⁴C-morphine a time dependent spread from the injection site was observed. The use of autoradiography in pharmacological experiments as described was found advantageous. Thus, it is possible to correlate directly, the time course of the pharmacological effect and the respective distribution pattern of the drug applied. This may lead to better information about the probable sites of drug action.     

Effects of a Single Histoplasmin Skin Test on the Serological Diagnosis of Histoplasmosis

Numerous reports have indicated that a single histoplasmin skin test may stimulate humoral antibodies to Histoplasma capsulatum antigens in histoplasmin-hypersensitive individuals. Although these investigations concur that antibody elevations are evoked, they vary in the reported degree of incidence and response induced, and they cast doubt on the interpretation of serological tests in the diagnosis of histoplasmosis. Histoplasmin-hypersensitive subjects (114) were bled prior to administration of the skin test, 2 days later, at the time this test was read, and 15 and 30 days after testing. No significant antibody titers were observed at 2 days. At 15- and 30-day intervals, only 17 (15%) of the subjects demonstrated circulating antibodies. All 17 showed agar gel bands; 5 demonstrated no complement-fixation (CF) titers, 10 produced CF antibodies ranging from 1:8 to 1:16, and 2 demonstrated titers of 1:32. The data suggest that skin testing does not interfere significantly with antibody levels in sera drawn approximately 2 days after administration of antigen. However, since titers as high as 1:32 were obtained at later intervals, such reactions should be evaluated cautiously and only after consideration of clinical findings.     

Zytologische Beobachtungen an der hyperplastischen Nebennierenrinde des Menschen

Summary Clinical observations and the light and electron microscopic appearance of the adrenal cortex are described in a case of Cushing's disease associated with adrenocortical hyperplasia and a basophilic adenoma of the pituitary gland. The electron microscopic investigation concentrates upon the occurrence of osmiophil material in the different cytoplasmic compartments of the cell type rich in organelles and relatively poor in paraplasmic inclusions. It seems that the observation of osmiophil material in the perinuclear space, the mitochondrial matrix, Golgi vacuoles, and cytoplasmic vesicles has been made possible by a rather long fixation in Wohlfarth-Bottermann's chromium-osmium fixative. Mitochondria and related particles (named X-Einschlüsse) may contain a light center with a few dense filaments and masses resembling those described by other authors as being of deoxyribonucleic acid nature. Relatively large Golgi complexes are found, sometimes in close topographic relation with a centriole. A large population of osmiophil bodies (lipid droplets, pigment granules, microbodies) is described. Apart from these findings the cytoplasmic organization in the tissue studied is similar to that of the adrenal cortex as described in other mammals. The observations are discussed with respect to hypotheses about lipid droplet formation and to the possibility of artifacts due to preparation procedures.

---

---

Herrn Prof. Dr. med. W. Bargmann zum 60. Geburtstag gewidmet. — Herrn Prof. Dr. E. Uehlinger, Direktor des Pathologischen Instituts der Universität Zürich, danken wir für die Überlassung des Materials und für die freundlicherweise zur Verfügung gestellte pathologisch-anatomische Diagnose, dem Schweizerischen Nationalfonds für die Unterstützung und Frau Jäger, Mlle. Challamel und Herrn Krieger für die Ausführung der histologischen und photographischen Arbeiten.     

Anhidrotic ectodermal dysplasia as autosomal recessive trait in an inbred kindred

Anhidrotic ectodermal dysplasia in an inbred kindred was observed in three sisters and three first cousins. This was interpreted as presumptive evidence for autosomal recessive inheritance and it is suggested that in addition to its known genes, anhidrotic ectodermal dysplasia occasionally may be caused by an autosomal recessive gene.This investigation was supported by Public Health Service Research Grant No. FR 00123, from GCRC-DRFR and by a Fellowship in Pediatric Teratology of the Children's Hospital Research Foundation, Cincinnati.