THE RECOVERY FROM DEPRESSION 481 



To what extent the full process takes place in the cytoplasm 

 I am unable to say for this type of nerve cell. The pigment 

 might come through the full sequence or through the nucleolar 

 substance alone, which must be extruded in line with other cells 

 under special conditions and which perhaps in this case is unem- 

 ployed in synthetic reactions from the cytoplasmic breakdown. 

 The usual description of chromidial extrusions of whatever nature 

 is that of Schultz's chromatophore, — the breaking down of the 

 chromatin leaves a basis of nucleolar substance. Most prob- 

 ably that is true for the constitution of the chromidial apparatus 

 of the nerve cell as the tinctorial reaction in one micron sections 

 positively suggests, but it possesses this peculiarity that in its 

 normal reaction the chromatic granules disintegrate completely. 

 That is, as the cell approaches functional and chromatic ex- 

 haustion, and consequently a paleness and a watery dilution 

 which would permit the observation of a residue of nucleolar 

 substance for the individual granules, if it remained, it -is not 

 apparent by ordinary methods. This is only to be expected 

 from the nature of its specialization, and as a matter of fact 

 accords with the absence of pigment from its normal function 

 which will be discussed. So the problem is of no moment under 

 normal conditions. 



In depression, however, it very probably happens that a 

 breaking down of the chromatic granule with a residue of nu- 

 cleolar substance occurs in the disorganized plasma, as it does 

 prematurely in the nucleus. The browning of isolated chromatic 

 granules which is to be seen is suggestive of the full sequence.- 

 Unfortunately, the possibility of origin from nucleolar substance 

 alone is complicated by the coincident occurrence of other eosin- 

 ophilic material, as for example, the albuminous stuff, and by 

 a diffuse red staining of the whole mass. In the light of the facts 

 stated, however, it is fair to assume that part of the acid reaction 

 is due to nucleolar substance, and to trace the origin of cyto- 

 plasmic pigment from this source as well as from chromatic 

 granules themselves and possibly from nuclear extrusion. Its 

 scantiness, however, indicates how slightly the normal fate of 

 extranuclear materials is disturbed. 



THE JOURNAL OF COMPARATIVE NEUROLOGY, VOL. 28, NO. 3 



