Cytology of the hypophysis in the adrenalectomized golden hamster (Mesocricetus auratus)

The cytology of the hypophyseal pars distalis in the normal hamster has been studied by Koneff, Simpson and Evans ('46), Hanke and Charipper ('48), and Spagnoli and Charipper ('55). These authors employed neither the aldehyde fuchsin nor periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) staining procedures and were thus unable to subdivide the basophils into beta and delta types. Since completion of my study, Serber ('58) published the results of a study on the hypophysis of the normal hamster in which these procedures were utilized. However, several significant differences exist between my observations and those of Serber. Differentiation of the types of basophils in the hamster is important because in the rat this achievement (Purves and Griesbach, '5la; '51b; Halmi, '50) has made possible a significant advance in the correlation of pituitary cytology with cellular function. Since in some respects the endocrinology of the hamster is unusual, a more precise analysis of the basophils in this species offers promise of providing additional useful information. Also, other aspects of cytology in the pars distalis, the neurohypophysis and pars intermedia in the hamster have received little attention. This investigation had two objectives: ( a ) to study the cytology of the hypophysis in the nonadrenalectomized hamster and (b) to observe the influence of adrenalectomy on the hypophysis.