Cites J.N. Langley, 'Some Remarks on the Formation of Ferment in the Sub-maxillary Gland of the Rabbit', Journal of Physiology 1 (1) (1878), pp. 68-71.
Description:

'In a previous paper [note: 'Journal of Physiology, Vol. I. p. 69, 1878. At that time I could not obtain any appreciable amount of ferment from the sub-maxillary gland of the rabbit; since I have made no further experiments in that direction, I treat the subject here purely from a histological standpoint.'] I contested the justice of Nussbaum's conclusion that ferment is formed in, and only in, transition-cells. I there pointed out that after two hours osmic acid the ducts stain darkest, and the ductules equally with the transition-cells; consequently there is no reason for limiting the ferment to the transition-cells if we are to judge of the presence of ferment by the depth of staining with osmic acid.' (271)

'I have said, in an earlier paper [note: 'Op. cit. p. 70.'], that if the gland be treated with absolute alcohol before osmic acid, the deep staining is absent from every part of the gland, the transition-cells included; and that consequently it is very improbable that the staining substance could be, in any case, ferment. Nussbaum [note: 'Arch. f. Mik. Anat., Bd. xvi. s. 543, 1879.'] obtains a different result. As however I always obtain the transition-cells of only a light yellow colour, when absolute alcohol is used before osmic acid, I can but repeat my original statement, and leave the matter to other observers to decide. ' (272)

Cites M. Nussbaum, 'Ueber den Bau und die Thätigkeit der Drüsen. III. Mittheilung. Die Permentbildung in den Drüsen', Archiv für mikroskopische Anatomie 16 (1) (1879), pp. 532-544.
Description:

'Nussbaum in his earlier paper [note: 'Arch. f. Mik. Anat., Bd. XIII. s. 721, 1877.'] describes the ducts as being stainied brown, and the transition-cells deep black (tiefschwarz); in his later paper [note: 'Arch. f. Mik. Anat., Bd. XVI. s. 543, 1879'] he says that in ferment-holding glands the transition-cells are always more deeply stained than the ducts. In neither does he mention the colouration of the ductules. In glands treated with alcohol after osmic acid it is true that the transition-cells may be slightly darker than the ducts, but this is not the case if the alcohol treatment is omitted. The striation of the outer portion of the duct-cells gives a different character to the staining here and in the transition-cells. The staining of the ductule-cells is however quite comparable to the staining of the transition-cells; the tint is in all cases similar, whether yellow-brown, brown o rblack, according to different modes of treatment; the cells are, in both, equally stained throughout. The depth of staining may be somewhat less in the ductules than in the transition-cells, frequently however it is not; it must be remembered that the transition-cells are larger than the ductule-cells, and on that account alone in most sections look darker. Even however granting that the ductule-cells are less darkly stained than the transition-cells, still there is sufficient similarity between them, and a sufficient difference of both from the alveolar-cells, to make it impossible on simple colouration, to say that the transition-cells owe their colour to ferment, and at the same time deny the presence of ferment in the ductules.' (271-272)

'I have said, in an earlier paper [note: 'Op. cit. p. 70.'], that if the gland be treated with absolute alcohol before osmic acid, the deep staining is absent from every part of the gland, the transition-cells included; and that consequently it is very improbable that the staining substance could be, in any case, ferment. Nussbaum [note: 'Arch. f. Mik. Anat., Bd. xvi. s. 543, 1879.'] obtains a different result. As however I always obtain the transition-cells of only a light yellow colour, when absolute alcohol is used before osmic acid, I can but repeat my original statement, and leave the matter to other observers to decide.' (272)

 

Cites M. Nussbaum, 'Ueber den Bau und die Thätigkeit der Drüsen: Die Fermentbildung in den Drüsen', Archiv für mikroskopische Anatomie 13 (1) (1877), pp. 721-755.
Description:

'Nussbaum [note: 'Arch. f. Mik. Anat., Bd. XIII. s. 721, 1877.'] found the transition cells to stain with osmic acid a deep black, compared with the alveolar-cells.

This he found, after two hours treatment with osmic acid, 1 per cent. I imagine that he must have hardened the osmic-treated gland in alcohol before making sections, since osmic acid alone only stains the transition-cells a yellowish-brown.

With regard to this point the following details may be. given. A piece of the gland is taken from a freshly-killed one-day-hungry rabbit, and placed in osmic acid 1 per cent. for two hours. Sections are then made at once, without the gland having been placed in alcohol, and mounted in dilute glycerine or in osmic acid. In such preparations the staining is yellowish-brown, no parts are stained very deeply; there are none which can be described as staining black. The difference of tint is not very great, but the ducts strike one at once as the darker parts; the ductules and transition-cells are not conspicuous, they differ from the alveolar-cells in being stained evenly throughout, whereas the latter are finely dotted; amongst these fine dots there is seen towards the periphery an evenly stained usually irregular nucleus, lightly stained. The nuclei of the transition-cells are stained to much the same extent as the cell-substance, and are thus with difficulty, or not at all, seen.

lf sections are made after twenty-four hours treatment with osmic acid, instead of after two, the appearances presented are very similar; the ducts are still the most deeply stained parts. The tint may have changed from a yellowish-brown to a brownish-yellow: still however the ductule- and transition-cells are not striking to the eye, and not stained much more deeply than the alveolar-cells.

If the osmic acid be renewed and, later on, sections cut, it is seen that only after several days do the transition-cells attain a colour to which Nussbaum's description can be fairly applied. 

...

It is... the alcohol treatment after osmic acid, which brings out clearly the difference of the staining power of the alveolar compared with the remaining gland-cells.

In a previous paper [note: 'Journal of Physiology, Vol. I. p. 69, 1878. At that time I could not obtain any appreciable amount of ferment from the sub-maxillary gland of the rabbit; since I have made no further experiments in that direction, I treat the subject here purely from a histological standpoint.'] I contested the justice of Nussbaum's conclusion that ferment is formed in, and only in, transition-cells. I there pointed out that after two hours osmic acid the ducts stain darkest, and the ductules equally with the transition-cells; consequently there is no reason for limiting the ferment to the transition-cells if we are to judge of the presence of ferment by the depth of staining with osmic acid. Nussbaum in his earlier paper [note: 'Arch. f. Mik. Anat., Bd. XIII. s. 721, 1877.'] describes the ducts as being stainied brown, and the transition-cells deep black (tiefschwarz); in his later paper [note: 'Arch. f. Mik. Anat., Bd. XVI. s. 543, 1879'] he says that in ferment-holding glands the transition-cells are always more deeply stained than the ducts. In neither does he mention the colouration of the ductules. In glands treated with alcohol after osmic acid it is true that the transition-cells may be slightly darker than the ducts, but this is not the case if the alcohol treatment is omitted. The striation of the outer portion of the duct-cells gives a different character to the staining here and in the transition-cells. The staining of the ductule-cells is however quite comparable to the staining of the transition-cells; the tint is in all cases similar, whether yellow-brown, brown o rblack, according to different modes of treatment; the cells are, in both, equally stained throughout. The depth of staining may be somewhat less in the ductules than in the transition-cells, frequently however it is not; it must be remembered that the transition-cells are larger than the ductule-cells, and on that account alone in most sections look darker. Even however granting that the ductule-cells are less darkly stained than the transition-cells, still there is sufficient similarity between them, and a sufficient difference of both from the alveolar-cells, to make it impossible on simple colouration, to say that the transition-cells owe their colour to ferment, and at the same time deny the presence of ferment in the ductules.' (270-272)

Cites Plate II, Journal of Physiology 1 (1) (1878). Figs. 1-3 from J.N. Langley, 'Some Remarks on the Formation of Ferment' and fig. 4 from W. Stirling, 'On Hyperplasia of the Muscular Tissue'.
Description:

'Nussbaum [note: 'Arch. f. Mik. Anat., Bd. XVI. s. 543, 1879.'] suggests that the transition-cells which I describe are different from the darkly-stained cells described by him; a comparison of the figure 1 of his first communication with mine [note: 'Op. cit.'], and of the figure 1 of his second communication [note: 'Arch. f. Mik. Anat., Bd. XV. s. 119, 1878.'] with my fig. 2, Plate VIII., adjoined to this Paper will, I think, shew that we are dealing with the same cells.' (272-273)

Cites Plate VII, Journal of Physiology 2 (4) (1879). Figs 1-6 from J.N. Langley, 'On the Changes in Serous Glands during Secretion'.
Description:

Explanation of Plate VII:

'Parotid gland of the rabbit in the fresh state. The figures are all from the same gland. In drawing the outlines a camera was used, Zeiss microscope, oc. 2, obj. E.

Fig. 1. Small piece of fresh gland taken at 12 o'clock. The clear lines marking the junctions of the cells are made a little too broad.

Fig. 2. Taken at 1.45, after 3.65 c.c. of saliva had been obtained by injecting pilocarpin in small quantities into the duct.

Fig. 3. Taken at 3.30, after 1 c.c. saliva more from pilocarpin; and following stimulation of sympathetic in neck for 10" to 15" every 60" during 55'.

Fig. 4. Taken at 5.16, after stimulating sympathetic as above for 100'; altogether 1.6 c.c. saliva from sympathetic stimulation.

Fig. 5. Resting gland after 10' mounting in saliva.

Fig. 6. Resting gland after 20' mounting in saliva.' (279) [nb: see comments re: delineation in description of Plate VIII] 

 

Fig. 1 in text:

'The alveoli of the parotid of a hungry rabbit taken fresh from the animal and at once examined, are granular throughout (Pl. VII. Fig. 1); there is no division into an outer clear and an inner granular zone; the cells of the alveoli can be made out with more or less distinctness as clear lines running between the granules.' (263)

 

Figs. 2-4 in text:

'As the granules disappear from a cell the rest of the granules do not form a small collection at the part bordering the lumen, but form rather lines at the margin and sides near the lumen (cp. Figs. 2, 3 and 4). The cells too, as has been pointed out by Heidenhain [note: 'Pflüger's Archiv. Bd. xvii. S. 1, 1878.'], become smaller.' (364)

 

Fig. 4 in text:

'The longer the gland is stimulated the more obvious the outer clear zone becomes, so that at length some alveoli may shew scarcely any granules. (Fig. 4.) At this stage the secretion offered by the gland is very scanty.' (263-264)

 

Figs. 5-6 in text:

'I have attempted to reproduce the appearance offered by the gland as the cells become acted on by the fluid. Fig. 5 (Pl. VII.) is from a resting gland ten minutes after being mounted in saliva. Fig. 6 from a resting gland twenty minutes after being mounted in saliva. The clear border appearing at a certain stage of the action of the fluid on the alveoli is totally different in appearance from the "non-granular" zone appearing in the alveoli on stimulation. The nuclei become visible only after the fluid has acted on them for some time. The distinction of granular and non-granular zones disappears or becomes very obscure on the addition of either alcohol, chromic acid, picric acid, or osmic aceid.' (264-265)

Cites Plate VIII, Journal of Physiology 2 (4) (1879). Figs 1-5 from J.N. Langley, 'On the Changes in Serous Glands during Secretion'.
Tags: osmic acid
Description:

Explanation of Plate VIII:

'Fig. 1. Sub-maxillary gland of rabbit. Fresh state. After a moderate amount of saliva from pilocarpin injection. The ductule- and transition-cells are darkly granular; the alveolar-cells shew an outer clear zone.

Fig. 2. Sub-maxillary gland of rabbit. Few hours after feeding. Osmic acid 1 per cent. acid, 2 1/2 hours, absolute alcohol 20 hours, mounted in dilute glycerine. The darker patches mark the transition- and ductule-cells.

Figs. 3, 4 and 5. Infra-orbital gland of rabbit. Treated with osmic acid and subsequently with alcohol. In figs. 4 and 5 the granules are rather too large; in the actual specimens, they appear more as darker spaces in a lighter network. In figs. 3 and 4 the nuclei are rather too prominent.

Fig. 5. Resting gland.

Fig. 4. Gland after moderate amount of secretion from pilocarpin.

Fig. 3. Gland after protracted secretion from pilocarpin, sympathetic also stimulated.

The actual appearance of the specimens cannot be very accurately represented by the lithographic process; the shaded portions of the figs. including the nuclei should be perfectly smooth and homogeneous.' (279-280)

 

Fig. 1 in text:

'Both in hunger and digestion, the appearance of this [sub-maxillary] gland [in the rabbit] in the fresh state is less constant than in the parotid... Nevertheless, as the result of many observations, I feel confident that the number of granules in the alveolar-cells diminishes during activity just as it does in the parotid. When the cells at the beginning of an experiment were granular throughout, a thinly granular periphery, or a non-granular outer zone, made its appearance, after continued secretion from pilocarpin injection, or sympathetic nerve stimulation; when the cells at the beginning of an experiment had an outer clear zone, the clear zone became larger. (P1. VIII. Fig. 1.) The alveolar-cell granules are less highly refractive and somewhat smaller than those of the parotid.' (269)

'The sub-maxillary has... one very characteristic point, the transition-, and at any rate some of the ductule-cells are crowded with granules much larger than those of the alveolar-cells (Pl. VIII. Fig. 1).' (270)

 

Fig. 2 in text:

'if, after two hours treatment with osmic acid, the gland is washed with dilute spirit or water and placed in alcohol about 75 per cent. for twenty-four hours and then sections cut, the appearances are markedly different; scattered about, are dark, deeply stained patches which at once catch the eye (Pl. VIII. Fig. 2); these are the transition-cells and ductules; there is now a much greater equality of staining between these and the ducts; the transition-cells may be somewhat lighter than the ducts and the ductules somewhat lighter than either, all being much darker than the alveolar cells. The nuclei of the alveolar-cells are much more conspicuous.' (271)

'Nussbaum [note: 'Arch. f. Mik. Anat., Bd. xvi. s. 543, 1879.'] suggests that the transition-cells which I describe are different from the darkly-stained cells described by him; a comparison of the figure 1 of his first communication with mine [note: 'op. cit.' ['Journal of Physiology, Vol. I. p. 69, 1878.']], and of the figure 1 of his second communication [note: 'Arch. f. Mik. Anat., Bd. xv. s. 119, 1878.'] with my fig. 2, Plate VIII., adjoined to this Paper will, I think, shew that we are dealing with the same cells.' (272-273)

 

Figs. 3-4 in text:

'During activity, the outer portion of each alveolus begins to stain evenly (Fig. 4), at first without much alteration in the nuclei or in the inner portions of the cells. Later, the nuclei become larger, spherical, and travel towards the centres of the cells; they are then much less distinct; as the outer zone encroaches on the inner zone, the network look of the latter becomes less and less apparent, so that it may be represented only as a few scattered dots (Fig,. 3). At the same time the lumen becomes more obvious and stretches out somewhat between the cells.' (275)

 

Fig. 5 in text:

'In the resting gland the alveoli are throughout unevenly stained (Fig. 5, Pl. VIII.). The nucleus is irregular, and lies in the peripheral portion of the cell. When looked at with a high power the network appears ligrht and the spaces dark, as if the network were the substance between the granules which are seen with a lower power; ordinarily the granules seen under a low power are described as being the nodal points of the network seen with a high power. At present, however, I am not prepared to discuss either this point or that of the relations of the granules normally seen with those visible after reagents.' (274)

 

 

Cites Tafel VI, Archiv für mikroskopische Anatomie 15 (1) (1878). Figs. 1-10 from M. Nussbaum, 'Ueber den Bau und die Thätigkeit der Drüsen: Die Fermentbildung in den Drüsen', pp. 119-133.
Description:

'Nussbaum [note: 'Arch. f. Mik. Anat., Bd. XVI. s. 543, 1879.'] suggests that the transition-cells which I describe are different from the darkly-stained cells described by him; a comparison of the figure 1 of his first communication with mine [note: 'Op. cit.'], and of the figure 1 of his second communication [note: 'Arch. f. Mik. Anat., Bd. XV. s. 119, 1878.'] with my fig. 2, Plate VIII., adjoined to this Paper will, I think, shew that we are dealing with the same cells.' (272-273)

Cites Tafel XLIII, Archiv für mikroskopische Anatomie 13 (1) (1877). Figs. 1-12 from M. Nussbaum, 'Ueber den Bau und die Thätigkeit der Drüsen: Die Fermentbildung in den Drüsen', pp. 721-755.
Description:

'Nussbaum [note: 'Arch. f. Mik. Anat., Bd. XVI. s. 543, 1879.'] suggests that the transition-cells which I describe are different from the darkly-stained cells described by him; a comparison of the figure 1 of his first communication with mine [note: 'Op. cit.'], and of the figure 1 of his second communication [note: 'Arch. f. Mik. Anat., Bd. XV. s. 119, 1878.'] with my fig. 2, Plate VIII., adjoined to this Paper will, I think, shew that we are dealing with the same cells.' (272-273)