Summary
Electron microscopy of fresh air dried spreads of unstained posterior lobe tissue from mouse pituitary disclosed neurosecretory granules. Each granule showed a seemingly homogeneous dense core surrounded by a halo and a bounding membrane. The area between granules in the cytoplasm was relatively well preserved. The energy dispersive X-ray microanalysis revealed peaks for sulfur, chlorine and potassium in two granules. The third granule displayed peaks for phosphorus and chlorine. These elements probably contribute to the high electron density of the granules. There was no peak for calcium, in contrast to the dense bodies of human blood platelets.
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The author expresses this sincere thanks to Prof. H. Fujita for his critical review of the manuscript. He is also grateful to Dr. A. Tanaka, JEOL laboratory, Akishima, Tokyo, for facilities to carry out X-ray microanalysis, and also for technical assistance by Mr. S. Aida and Mr. T. Hoshino.
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Takaya, K. Energy dispersive X-ray microanalysis of neurosecretory granules of mouse pituitary on fresh air-dried tissue spreads. Cell Tissue Res. 159, 227–231 (1975). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00219158
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00219158