674 
MR. J. N. LANGLEY ON THE HISTOLOGY AND 
The Changes which occur in the Oxyntic Glands. 
Partsch is the only observer who has described any alteration in the gastric glands 
during activity. His observations were made upon alcohol-hardened specimens. 
According to him, when a Frog is fed the cells of the gastric glands increase in size 
for twelve to eighteen hours, and subsequently to this diminish, so that in about 
twenty-four hours they have returned to their normal condition. This account I 
cannot in any point confirm. 
I will first briefly state what the changes are which I find do occur. Some are like 
those which occur in the oesophageal glands, viz. : the cells become smaller ; the granules 
become smaller and less distinct; the lumina become apparent; there is an increase 
in the cell-protoplasm of substance staining with osmic acid. These are the only 
changes which normally occur in those glands which immediately follow the inter¬ 
mediate region between the oesophagus and stomach. The number of these glands is 
not constant; within certain limits the larger the meal the fewer glands there are which 
do not undergo the changes to be presently described. 
In the remainder of the oxyntic glands, forming a considerable majority, there are 
other additional changes which strongly contrast with those which take place in the 
oesophageal glands ; we have seen that in the oesophageal glands the granules dis¬ 
appear from the outer portion of the cells during activity, in the majority of the oxyntic 
glands, on the contrary , the granules disappear from the inner portion of the cells 
during activity. The other and less important differences which exist will be considered 
in the course of the following description of the glands. 
Examination of fresh specimens. —Several of the changes mentioned above cannot 
be satisfactorily seen hr fresh specimens of the oxyntic glands ; in the pinned-out 
mucous membrane it will be remembered that the glands do not show distinct 
granules, so that any alteration in their number and size cannot be well observed. 
The active glands are, however, much more transparent than the resting; this is in 
part no doubt due to the cells having become smaller and the membrane consequently 
thinner; but it is also due to a diminution in number and size of the granules, for a 
distinct difference in granularity is seen in the two specimens on adding salt solution 
0’6 per cent. 
During strong activity the oxyntic glands near the pyloric region may become almost 
as transparent as the pyloric glands; nevertheless, they can still be fairly readily dis¬ 
tinguished ; they are more refractive than the pyloric glands, and with a not too 
bright light have a very faint yellowish tinge. The oxyntic and pyloric glands of the 
Newt and Snake show in similar circumstances similar differences. 
The increase in the size of the lumen can be seen ; it is usually most obvious in the 
gastric glands near the pyloric region. It is only at the height of digestion after a 
Op. cit s. 193. 
