A stereotaxic apparatus and technique for electrode placement in forebrain nuclei of the goldfish is described. An atlas of forebrain nuclei is given. Some new nuclear regions are described and the nomenclature of several nuclei is discussed.

A stereotaxic atlas and technique for forebrain nuclei of the goldfish, Carassius auratus.

Staining of tissue sections by basic dyes after immersion in hot hydrochloric acid (0.2 N for 3–10 hr at 60 C) provides a means for selective detection of many endocrine cells. The acid hydrolysis suppresses diffuse basophilia, mainly due to RNA, DNA and acid polysaccharides, and increases the basophilia of secretory granules in endocrine cells, due, at least in part, to the proteins they store. After such treatment, toluidine blue or azur A (0.01–0.005% in 0.02 M McIlvaine buffer, pH 5) or pseudoisocyanin (0.02% in distilled water) heavily stain A and D cells of pancreatic islets, enterochromaffin and nonenterochromaffin endocrine cells of the gastrointestinal mucosa, thyroid parafollicular or C cells, pituitary basophil cells and adrenalin-secreting cells of the adrenal medulla.

Selective staining of endocrine cells by basic dyes after acid hydrolysis.

THE relationship between the gastric secretagogue extracted from Zollinger–Ellison tumours1 and the antral hormone gastrin2,3 was clarified by Gregory et al.4 who found the amino-acid constitution of the gastric secretagogue contained in Zollinger–Ellison tumours to be identical to that of human gastrin. Previous attempts to extract the gastric secretagogue from normal hog pancreas1 and from normal human and animal pancreas5 were, however, unsuccessful. We have now demonstrated the presence of gastrin in some cells of normal mammalian islets of Langerhans by the indirect immunofluorescent technique. In addition, the fluorescent cells found in normal human pancreatic islets were found to correspond to the D cells discovered by Bloom6, which were recently identified7–10 with the argyrophil A1 cells of Hellerstrom and Hellman11.

Immunohistochemical demonstration of gastrin in mammalian islets of Langerhans.

As far as we are aware, this is the first attempt to cover the com parative physiology of the pancreatic islets in a monograph. The topics discussed would probably have sufficed to fill about half a dozen monographs, a matter that becomes obvious from a look at the Contents. Hence, we have tried to present the ma terial more in the form of a digest, to emphasize evolutionary perspectives, to point out critical issues, and to identify challenging topics for future research. This approach required an arbitrary reduction of the num ber of references, and we therefore join the chorus of recent authors who beg their colleagues for understanding if some of their publications do not appear in the bibliography. Keeping up with the current literature was like fighting one of those monsters that grow a couple of new heads for each one that is cut off. Nevertheless, we hope that we have covered most of the key publications up to the autumn of 1986. We gratefully acknowledge the advice of many colleagues, and in particular the invaluable criticisms of Robert L. Hazelwood and Erika Plisetskaya. Special thanks are due to the series editor, Donald S. Farner, for his patience and guidance, both of which were fresh proof of his legendary diplomatic skills. Finally, we wish to thank Dr. D. Czeschlik and his staff at the Springer Verlag for their patience and support. Philadelphia, PA AUGUST EpPLE Greenville, NC JACK E. BRINN September 1987 v Contents Chapter 1. Introduction ."

The comparative physiology of the pancreatic islets

Histology of the striped bass

Recent investigations strongly suggest the elaboration of a third pancreatic hormone by the D cell and the existence of cells which show the staining properties of both B and D cells. Demonstration of these and all other islet cells in a single section is possible by the following staining sequence: (1) of D cells by silver or toluidine blue, (2) of B cells by pseudoisocyanin, and (3) empirical staining of all islet cells together by aldehyde fuchsin, ponceau de xylidine, acid fuchsin and light green. Difficulties in embedding compact pancreatic tissue can be overcome by dehydrating to 80% ethanol, followed by tetrahydrofurane as the intermediate fluid to paraffin infiltration.

August Epple

Papers

A Staining Sequence for A, B and D Cells of Pancreatic Islets

Islet cytology in urodele amphibians

Cytology of pancreatic islet tissue in the toad, Bufo bufo (L.)

Further observations on amphiphil cells in the pancreatic islets.