478 Castration andThyroidectomy Basophils 



paratus, and the enlargement of the vacuole probably determines the ultimate 

 position of both of the other cell structures. 



The ease with which the Golgi apparatus is demonstrable in the thyroid- 

 ectomy and castration cell differs markedly. Even a short time after thyroidec- 

 tomy, the Golgi apparatus becomes more difficult to demonstrate than in the 

 normal or castrate basophil. This is probably related to the increased osmio- 

 philia of the cytoplasm of these cells. 



Early enlargement of the Golgi apparatus is seen in both the thyroidectomy 

 and castration basophils. The shape and internal structure of the apparatus, 

 however, is markedly different. The enlargement in the castration cell is such 

 that it does not disturb the fundamental pattern of the double-walled sphere. 

 It is true that at a time when the Golgi body has reached maximum size (some- 

 what before vacuolation occurs) its outer surface may be somewhat crenated, 

 but the whole structure remains rounded or oval (pi. i, figs. 15 and 16). 

 However lightly such an apparatus is impregnated, it always has a sharp out- 

 line and the component parts of its net are shown with clarity. 



The Golgi apparatus of the basophil also enlarges after thyroidectomy, but 

 assumes peculiar shapes conforming to the contour of the limited cytoplasm 

 in which it is forced by the multiple vacuoles. The apparatus in such cells has 

 a very tenuous character; long filaments or strands are formed which are inter- 

 rupted by areas which are relatively osmiophobic. Though the shape of the 

 Golgi apparatus is distorted by pressure effects, it does not need to be con- 

 sidered degenerate in early stages. 



Guyer and Claus^ have described the Golgi apparatus in thyroidectomy as 

 "commonly granular or diffuse." This is true and this granularity or diffuse- 

 ness is seen in many cells which show only early thyroidectomy changes as far 

 as vacuole formation is concerned. Later during vacuolation there may be 

 complete fragmentation and the remains of the Golgi body are then mani- 

 fested only as a granular osmiophilic area. In some cells, parts of the apparatus 

 may remain intact while the remainder is undergoing fragmentation. Disin- 

 tegration of the apparatus is the rule in later periods after thyroidectomy. The 

 enlargement of the apparatus in thyroidectomy cells is temporary; the final 

 effect is destruction. 



Granular distintegration of the Golgi body is not seen in castration cells. 

 In these cells the apparatus is first enlarged, later becomes smaller. The en- 

 larging vacuole compresses the apparatus into a very small space at the cell 

 periphery and the shape of the apparatus is changed, but the integrity of the 

 net remains undisturbed. Even in the largest castration cells after the appara- 

 tus itself is decreased in size there is no evidence of a dissolution such as is 

 seen in thyroidectomy cells. 



The mitochondria also differentiate the processes occurring in the basophils 

 after the two operations, both by their changes in size, shape, and distribution. 

 The differences in these structures in the two cells are sufficiently marked so 



