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Endocrine cells in the bronchial epithelium in the glandular and beginning of the canalicular period of lung development, of rabbits, mice and guinea-pigs were searched for by use of the formaldehyde-fluorescence technique, by silver stains, staining of endocrine cell granules and by electron microscopy. One type was observed but differences between various animal species were noted. In rabbit foetuses numerous argyrophil cells in the bronchial epithelium were shown to contain amine and to have the capacity to take up and store further amounts of amine upon administration in vivo and in vitro of amine precursors. This capacity to produce and store amine under experimental conditions was shown by a smaller number of cells in the bronchial epithelium of mouse foetuses and by few scattered cells in the bronchial epithelium of guinea pig foetuses. By electron microscopic examination cells characterized by cytoplasmic secretory granules were observed, similar in number and distribution to those demonstrated by fluorescence microscopy. Differences were noted with respect to the texture, electron-density and size of the granules as well as in the contact of the cells to the lumen of the bronchi.

The fine structure of the nuclei of epithelial cells of the dorsal lobe of the rat prostate were studied after administration of three different antiandrogenic compounds. The nucleolus appears to undergo a progressive disorganisation with partial fragmentation and dispersion of its normal components. Different types of intranuclear inclusions were found. The various alterations observed were often encountered within the same section. This may indicate that the nuclear alterations occur in the same compartment of the cell, and represent a dysfunction of integrated biochemical events occurring within this compartment. The findings support a view that the stimulatory secretory effect of androgens is mediated via a ‘secretory center’, located within the nucleolusassociated chromatin. Within this ‘secretory center’, the initial steps of the secretory process, the binding of the DHT receptor complex to DNA is assumed to occur.

Due to an oversight, Fig. 1(a, b) and Fig. 2 in Nazempour et al. (2017) Cell Tissue Res 370:179–193 DOI https://doi.org/10.1007/s00441-017-2651-7 should have a copyright acknowledgement added as follows: Schematics in Fig. 1(a, b) modified from Nazempour et al. (2016) (Copyright American Scientific Publishers).

The distribution of the vitamin-D dependent calcium-binding protein (Calbindin-D 28K) (CaBP-28K) in the tibial growth plate cartilage of the rat has been studied immunohistochemically using an antibody raised against rat renal CaBP-28K. The protein was detected mainly in the nuclei of chondrocytes and occasionally in the juxta-nuclear cytoplasm. The distribution was not uniform throughout the growth plate, but concentrated in the proliferatively active chondrocytes of the resting and proliferative zones. These findings raise the possibility that CaBP-28K may be involved in the mitotic activity of the chondrocytes, acting as a regulator of the proliferative process, perhaps via intranuclear calcium.

Components of the γ-glutamyl cycle, including thiols, glutathione (GSH) and γ-glutamyl transpeptidase (γ-GT), were localized in the nasal mucosae of rats using histochemical and immunohistochemical methods. In olfactory mucosa, thiols were widely distributed, with intense staining in the mucociliary complex (MC), basal cells, acinar cells of Bowman's glands (BG), and olfactory nerve bundles, and with moderate staining in olfactory receptor neurons (ORNs). GSH was localized in MC, BG acinar cells, nerve bundles and, to a lesser extent, in ORNs. γ-GT immunoreactivity was restricted to the MC and to basolateral and apical membranes of BG acinar and duct cells. The basolateral membrane of BG acinar cells, located in close association with blood vessels and connective tissue, showed granule-like immunoreactivity. Inrespiratory mucosa, all three compounds were localized in the MC and acinar cells of respiratory glands (RG). In the MC, γ-GT immunoreactivity was associated primarily with brush borders of ciliated cells. Granular immunoreactivity was also apparent in the supranuclear region of RG acinar cells. These results demonstrate that components of the γ-glutamyl cycle are localized in olfactory and respiratory glands, and that they are secreted into the mucus, where they may mediate perireceptor events such as detoxification and/or solubilization of air-borne xenobiotics, toxicants and odorants.

The fine structure of blood vessels of the retina and arms of Octopus and the lip of Sepia is described. There are two main types of vessels. The first type (type 1) has a complete basement membrane, an incomplete lining of endothelial cells formed into finger—like processes, and a complete investment of pericytes surrounding the vessel. These latter cells contain myofilaments. The second type (type 2) is smaller and contains few if any myofilaments, and has a less complexly folded endothelium. This type is subdivided into three forms depending on the number of pericytes and the form of the endothelial lining. Amoebocytes are described and these form a distinct group of cells. The fine structure of hemocyanin is observed in normally fixed material and is correlated with its previously described structure. These observations are related to their possible functional importance.