Reese. Koneff, and Wainman 4*79 



that they are discernible, not only in preparations specifically stained, but in 

 those stained by the Mallory-Azan technique in which the mitochondria are 

 stained by azo-carmine. 



No experimental conditions have been encountered, aside from estriniza- 

 tion, which produce mitochondria of such large size as have been observed in 

 thyroidectomy basophils. These mitochondria are almost all oval or spherical 

 in shape, filaments and rods being very rare. In almost 6 to lo per cent of the 

 cells they are unusually coarse and numerous. The mitochondria are situated 

 close to the nucleus or are strung like beads along the thin strands of cytoplasm 

 which form the thin partitions between the numerous vacuoles in these cells 

 (pi. i.fig. 9). 



After castration, the basophil mitochondria, while very numerous, are in 

 general smaller, and are more dispersed throughout the cell; short rods and 

 even filaments are present as well as granules. During the period of enlarge- 

 ment of the castration basophil, the mitochondrial distribution usually fol- 

 lows the normal pattern. They are definitely concentrated in the region of the 

 Golgi apparatus (pi. i, figs. 15 and 17), from which they radiate into the 

 surrounding cytoplasm. It is true that this distribution is disturbed by the 

 appearance of the vacuole, but the fundamental arrangement of mitochon- 

 dria, as ^vell as other intracellular inclusions, is not markedly affected until 

 late in the process. 



A comparison such as has been undertaken here would be incomplete with- 

 out some statement regarding differences in general cell size and shape at 

 vai-ious periods after the two types of operation. These criteria alone allow the 

 observer to differentiate at a glance the earlier phases of the two processes. 

 Zeckwer and co-workers' have stated that in both instances there is "prelimi- 

 nary to the formation of vacuoles a distinct increase in large solid basophilic 

 cells." The contour, however, of these large basophilic cells differs remarkably 

 and assists in the differentiation. In discussing this point it is necessary to 

 stress the difference between the basophils of normal female and male rats. 

 By this criterion we believe one can differentiate pituitaries from the two sexes. 

 The predominant type of basophil in the normal pituitary of the male is an 

 oval or rounded cell which stains comparatively lightly; in the female the 

 predominating basophil is polygonal in shape and more basophilic, and in this 

 cell the mitochondria are large and usually spherical. In the early response 

 to thyroidectomy of either sex, a marked increase in number of basophils 

 occurs, the cells closely approximating the type of cell just described for the 

 normal female. They are irregular in shape, often polyhedral and have a dis- 

 tinctly increased basophilia. As Guyer and Claus^ have stated, thyroidectomy 

 basophils show a marked tendency toward grouping. Castration basophils, on 

 the other hand, in early stages of formation are compact cells which are oval 

 or round. The granules are evenly distributed and the cell stains as a rule 

 more lightly with aniline blue than young thyroidectomy basophils. In a 



