THE HYPOPHYSIS IN REPTILES 219 



Gisi ('08) described the hypophysis of Sphenodon as an ovoid 

 body, more or less divided into a ventro-anterior portion of 

 darkly-staining strands with few capillaries, and a caudo-dorsal 

 mass composed of thinner columns and more vascular than the 

 former. In the ventro-anterior portion some cells have large 

 elliptical nuclei with much cytoplasm, others have little cyto- 

 plasm. The former are preponderant in the caudo-dorsal por- 

 tion. A richly vascular third part, composed of few cords, and 

 enclosed within the pia mater forms a lobus terminalis. In 

 Testudo graeca and in Emys the axis of the hypophysis is hori- 

 zontal while in Hatteria it is oblique. In Lacerta, Gisi found no 

 lobus terminalis, and in Chamaeleon the orohypophysis is smaller 

 than the nervous portion. 



In discussing the histologic appearance of the hypophysis of 

 the turtle, snake and alligator, Tilney ('11) describes a juxta- 

 neural and a distal epithelial portion in reptiles as in other 

 vertebrates. The dorsal juxta-neural part of turtles contains a 

 cavity and is formed of basophil es. The larger distal part has 

 an accessory tongue-like process extending forward from the lower 

 anterior angle, and is composed of acidophilic cells, most of 

 which are deeply-staining. The hypophysis shows an apparent 

 acinal arrangement of the cells, with masses of basophilic cells 

 between the acini. An homogeneous substance, staining deeply 

 with eosin, is present in some lumina. The same parts are pres- 

 ent in Eutaenia sirtalis. In the distal epithelial portion the cells 

 are acidophilic and faintly staining, with granular nuclei and 

 distinct cell membranes. No blood vessels, connective tissue, or 

 colloid material are found in any part of the gland. In alligator 

 an accessory process, extending forward toward the chiasma, and 

 acini containing colloid, were noted. 



Stendell ('13) described the 'Zwischenlappen' of Sauropsida 

 as very small and closely attached to the infundibulum. The 

 cells are light staining and polygonal. In turtles he found 

 numerous cyst-like tubules in the 'Hauptlappen,' whose lumina 

 were filled with a secretion. Such secretion was not observed 

 in young individuals. 



