ARGENTAFFIN CELLS 11 



Paneth cells, are almost all subnuclear in position. There has 

 been much confusion about these cells, but we are now in a 

 position to clarify the position a good deal. Kultschitzky 

 described certain elements in Avhich the subnuclear cytoplasm was 

 filled with acidophilic granules ; and these cells were regarded as 

 being different from the argentaffin cells in which the granules are 

 intensely safraninophilic. Kull, however, has shown that the 

 former type of cell is only a less mature aspect of the typical 

 argentaflin cell. 



The function of these cells is unknown, but the common view 

 that they contribute to the intestinal contents in some uncertain 

 way is difficult to reconcile with an interesting observation made 

 by Kull. This writer showed that the protoplasm of these cells 

 projects into the lumina of adjacent capillaries. This has led 

 some to postulate an endocrine function for these elements ; thus 

 Parat believes that they pour secretin into the blood. Masson, 

 on the other hand, avers that they bathe the nerve-endings with 

 some unknown secretion. As yet no one has been able to demon- 

 strate any changes in these cells during the assimilation or digestion 

 of any particular foodstuff. 



LIVER 



As might be expected from the known diversity of function of 

 the liver, there is great cellular complexity in its constituent 

 elements : and here onlv a few recent observ^ations need be discussed 

 because the general histology of the organ is sufficiently well 

 known. 



The essential character of the cytoplasm of the liver cell is 

 a reticulation, in the interstices of which complex chemical 

 substances are found, e.g., glycogen, fatty substances, etc. It 

 appears, therefore, from the histological evidence, that the 

 various activities of the liver, although functions of one organ, 

 are carried out in specialised areas of the constituent cells. This 

 is perhaps to be regarded as encouraging, for, were it not so, any 

 investigation of a single function of the organ would be 

 impossible without taking into account all the other activities. 



The stellate cells of Kupffer will be discussed in relation to the 



