ANATOMY, EMBRYOLOGY AND HISTOLOGY 



71 



The cells possess definite attraction spheres toward one pole of the 

 nucleus. 



Microchemical Reactions. According to the studies of Vincent (c?), 

 the chromaphil bodies, at least in the dog, are structurally fairly similar to 

 the medulla. The cells are arranged in irregular columns and resemble 

 those found in the medulla of the suprarenal. The cell columns are sep- 

 arated by connective tissue, blood vessels, and nerves. He records the 

 presence of "homogeneously stained material which appears to resemble 

 the colloid of the thyroid" in the form of droplets within the cells and in 

 the intercellular spaces, but he gives no detailed information regarding it. 



The cells of the me 

 dull a are characterized by 

 four microchemical reac- 

 tions. 



(a) Chromaphil Re- 

 action, The chromaphil 

 reaction consists of a dark 

 brown coloration when the 

 cells are treated with 

 chiomium. This reaction 

 is not given by any other 

 cells of the body with the 

 exception of the chroma- 

 phil tissues already men- 

 tioned and the poison 

 glands of certain lower 

 forms. It indicates the 

 presence of epinephrin or 

 some nearly related sub- 

 stance. Its chemistry is 

 discussed by Ogata and 

 Ogata. There has been a 

 good deal of discussion 



concerning the element in the tissue which gives the reaction. Many 

 consider it to be localized in certain minute granulations within the cells ; 

 others, however, regard it as a property of the ground substance in which 

 the granules are embedded. In all probability both views are, in a mea- 

 sure, correct. 



(b) Ferric Chlorid Reaction. The perchlorid of iron reaction is 

 also given by the medullary cells. When moistened w r ith a drop of 

 perchlorid they turn a beautiful green color. It is thought that the 

 granulations within the cells possess an affinity for the iron, just as they 

 do for the chromium. Since, as Da Costa remarks, the chromaffinity dis- 

 appears more rapidly on putrefaction than the sideraffinity, it is quite 



Fig. 8. Medulla of human suprarenal gland il- 

 lustrating the structure of the cells (magnification 



720). 



