Demonstration of an alcohol-chloroform insoluble,periodic acid-Schiff reactive substance in the hypothalamus of the rat

Summary An alcohol-chloroform insoluble, periodic acid-Schiff reactive substance associated with the ependymal lining of the supraoptic and infundibular recesses was demonstrated in the hypothalamus of the white rat. Although the ependyma is stratified and contains cells with long processes throughout the extent of the recesses, the PAS reactive substance is present in very circumscribed areas within the recesses. It was also shown that this PAS reactive substance is not related to neurosecretory material which has an affinity for chrome-alum hematoxylin and aldehyde fuchsin. The regularity of appearance and location of the substance may be taken as evidence in favor of its being a specific material elaborated in the regions mentioned.The possibility of the reactive material in each site representing different compounds, each of which is associated with a substance possessing 1,2-glycol groups, is discussed.This project supported by Research Grant B-1013 from National Institutes of Health.Macy Foundation Summer Research Fellow.