546 



Implantation of Actively Proliferating Epithelium. 

 By J. 0. Wakelin Barratt, M.D., D.Sc. 



(Communicated by Professor Sherrington, F.R.S. Received July 20, 1907.) 

 (From the Cytological Laboratories of the University of Liverpool.) 



The present investigation deals with the course of events following 

 subcutaneous implantation of actively proliferating adult epithelium. To 

 avoid the possibility of disturbing factors being introduced by the formation 

 of antibodies, the epithelium was implanted into the same animal or into an 

 animal of the same species. 



The effect of implantation of normal adult epithelium has, more particu- 

 larly during the last two decades, been the subject of considerable study by 

 a large number of observers, whose investigations have shown that 

 epithelium may be successfully implanted and an epithelial cyst result, but 

 that the implanted epithelium shows a marked tendency to die out in its 

 new habitat.* 



In the present research, instead of using normal epithelium for implanta- 

 tion, rapidly proliferating epithelium was employed. It was anticipated 

 that additional information would thereby be afforded upon two important 

 points, namely, upon the immediate influence of implantation on the activity 

 of the epithelial cells, and (owing to the large bulk of epithelium available 

 for implantation) upon the influence exerted by the implanted epithelium 

 upon non-epithelial tissue elements. Both these anticipations have been 

 fulfilled. 



The use of rapidly proliferating epithelium has been rendered possible by 

 Fischer's discovery of the action of scharlach R upon the epithelium of the 

 skin of the rabbit.f The extent to which epithelial proliferation occurs may 

 be judged by a glance at fig. 2, which shows the appearance of a section of 

 the ear after the injection of the dye, fig. 1 showing, for comparison, a 

 normal section drawn to the same scaled 



* Cp. E. Korschelt, " Regeneration und Implantation im Tierreich," ' VerhandJungeo 

 der Gesellschaft Deutscher Naturforscher und Aerzte,' 1906, Erster Tei], S. 164. 



t B. Fischer, " Die experimentelle Erzengung atypischer Epithelwucherungen und die 

 Entstehung bosartiger Geschwiilste," ' Munch. Med. Wochenschr.,' 1906, 53 Jahrg., 

 S. 2041. 



I The sections represented are stained by Heidenhain's iron alum hematoxylin method, 

 except in fig. 1, where methylene blue eosin is used for staining. Figs. 1 and 2 are- 

 magnified 33 diameters ; the remaining figures are magnified 800 diameters. 



