730 J. F. GUDERNATSCH 



they always present the long side to the free cell surface. Fre- 

 quently narrow cells with oblong nuclei are seen between the 

 cuboidal cells. 



In trout degenerating epithelial cells of small size were observed 

 with compact nuclei, deeply staining or pyknotic. 



The nucleus usually lies at the base of the cell (pi. V, fig. 11) 

 but may sometimes, especially in an epithelium with many cells, 

 move a little towards the lumen (pi. V, fig. 10). Nuclei may lie 

 at different altitudes, in an alternating fashion. One or two 

 nucleoli are visible. 



The shapes of the nuclei usually give no indication of the state 

 of activity of the cell as Anderson has claimed. Even pyknotic 

 nuclei usually have regular outlines. An exception to this is seen 

 in the trout where often, in some varieties almost exclusively, 

 epithelial cells show nuclei of very irregular shapes, as indicated in 

 pi. V, fig. 10. The nuclei are elongated with more or less bent 

 corners — horse-shoe shape. These were generally found in lower 

 cells; they may have been degenerating, since they did not stain 

 as deeply as the normal ones in other parts of the gland, when such 

 were present. It seems, however, scarcely conceivable that the 

 epithelium of the entire gland should degenerate, unless from 

 some pathological condition. (These animals were all reared in 

 the N. Y. Aquarium.) 



The cytoplasm of the cell appears granular and sometimes 

 stains slightly darker in the basal region. There is no cuticle 

 lining the lumen, but the refraction of light in this region has 

 misled some authors. The base of the cells is usually rather smooth, 

 though in cases where vessels come into close contact with the 

 follicle the straight basal line becomes somewhat interrupted 

 through the influence of the surrounding structures. In Brevoortia 

 the epithelial cells are nearly all drawn out as if they possess pro- 

 jections. Those of one follicle approach very closely those of 

 others and it seems almost as if a connection between the follicles 

 were established (pi. IV, fig. 1,2). Other somewhat broader cells 

 possess pedicel-like bases which are sometimes branched, giving 

 the impression that the cells are sending out pseudopodia. The 

 processes disappear in the interfollicular tissue in close contact 



