Summary
The cells of the mammalian adenohypophysis store a substance, probably a tryptophyl-peptide, which exhibits formaldehyde-induced fluorescence (FIF). The fluorescence intensity and the number of cells in different parts of the adenohypophysis of human fetus or rat were studied after the following treatments: formaldehyde vapour alone, acidification of the formaldehyde-treated sections with hydrochloric acid or with glacial acetic acid, acetyl chloride vapour alone, as well as combined formaldehyde and acetyl chloride vapour.
The combined formaldehyde and acetyl chloride treatment induced an unexpectedly strong fluorescence in the pars intermedia of the rat, the fluorescence intensity, being 16 times that observed after formaldehyde treatment alone. In the pars distalis a moderate number of fluorescent cells was seen. After the acidification with hydrochloric acid the fluorescence intensity of the pars intermedia of the rat became 6 times stronger, but it did not cause the appearence of more fluorescent cells in the pars distalis. Acidification with glacial acetic acid had no effect on the fluorescence intensity. The intensity often began to increase only in the UV light, which is a new finding in the field of the, fluorescence histochemistry. The histochemical properties of the fluorogenic substance of the adenohypophysis of the human fetus and the rat were the same. The results of the combined formaldehyde and acetyl chloride treatment were easily reproducible, the fluorescence was strictly localized in the cytoplasm, and the microscopic structure of tissue was well preserved. The procedure is simple and easy to carry out. Thus, it offers good possibilities for the study of tryptophyl-peptides in various cells.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Axelsson, S., Björklund, A., Lindvall O.: Fluorescence histochemistry of biogenic monoamines: a study of the capacity of various carbonyl compounds to form fluorophores with biogenic monoamines in gas phase reactions. J. Histochem. Cytochem. 20, 435–444 (1972)
Björklund, A., Falck, B.: Histochemical characterization of a tryptamine-like substance stored in cells of the mammalian adenohypophysis. Acta physiol. scand. 77, 475–489 (1969a)
Björklund, A., Falck, B.: Pituitary monoamines, of the cat with special reference to the presence of an unidentified monoamine-like substance in the adenohypophysis. Z. Zellforsch. 93, 254–264 (1969b)
Björklund, A., Falck, B., Lindvall, O., Svensson, L.-Å: New aspects on reaction mechanisms in the formaldehyde histofluorescence method for monoamines. J. Histochem. Cytochem. 21, 17–25 (1973)
Björklund, A., Lindvall, O., Svensson, L.-Å: Mechanisms of fluorophore formation in the histochemical glyoxylic acid method for monoamines. Histochemie 32, 113–131 (1972)
Björklund, A., Nobin, A., Stenevi, U.: Acid catalysis of the formaldehyde condensation reaction for a sensitive histochemical demonstration of tryptamines and 3-methoxylated phenylethylamines. J. Histochem. Cytochem. 19, 286–298 (1971)
Corrodi H., Hillarp, N.-Å, Jonsson, G. Fluorescence methods for the histochemical demonstration of monoamines. 3. Sodium borohydride reduction of the fluorescent compounds as a specificity test. J. Histochem. Cytochem. 12, 582–586 (1964)
Costa M, Eränkö, O.: Histochemical correlates, of cold-induced transsynaptic induction in the rat superior cervical ganglion. Histochem. J. 6, 35–53 (1974)
Dahlström, A., Fuxe, K.: Monoamines and the pituitary gland. Acta endocr. (Kbh.) 51, 301–314 (1966)
Eränkö, O.: Distribution of fluorescing islets, adrenaline and noradrenaline in the adrenal medulla of the hamster. Acta endocr. (Kbh.) 18, 174–179 (1955)
Eränkö, O.: The practical histochemical demonstration of catecholamines by formaldehyde-induced fluorescence. J. roy. micr. Soc. 87, 259–276 (1967)
Håkanson, R., Larsson, L.-I., Nobin, A., Sundler, F.: Tryptamine or tryptophyl peptides in endocrine cells of the mammalian adenohypophysis? J. Histochem. Cytochem. 20, 908–916 (1972)
Håkanson, R., Melander, A., Owman, C., Sundler, F.: Depletion of secretory granules, calcitonin, and formaldehyde-ozone-induced fluorescence from cat thyroid C cells by vitamin D2 treatment. Histochemie 36, 89–96 (1973)
Håkanson, R., Owman, C., Sundler, F.: Fluorescence histochemical and microspectrofluorometric evidence of tryptophyl peptides in thyroid C cells of cat and pig. J. Histochem. Cytochem. 20, 205–210 (1971)
Håkanson, R., Sundler, F.: Formaldehyde condensation. A method for the fluorescence microscopic demonstration of peptides with NH2-terminal tryptophan residues. J. Histochem. Cytochem. 19, 477–482 (1971)
Iturriza, F. C., Zieher, L. M., Ruager, J.: Detection of tryptamine in the pars distalis of the pituitary gland of the sheep. Acta endocr. Panam. 3, 121–127 (1972)
Larsson, L.-I., Sundler, F., Håkanson, R., Rehfeld J. F., Stadil, F.: Immunofluorescent localization of gastrin in rabbit antropyloric mucosa to argyrophil cells exhibiting form-aldehyde-ozone-induced fluorescence. Histochemie 37, 81–87 (1973)
Moriarty, G. C., Halmi, N. S.: Electron microscopic study of the adreno-corticotropin-producing cell with unlabeled antibody and soluble peroxidase-antiperoxidase complex J. Histochem. Cytochem. 20, 590–603 (1972)
Partanen, S.: The acid-catalyzed formaldehyde-induced fluorescence in the hypophysis of the human fetus. Acta physiol. scand., in press (1974)
Partanen, S., Hervonen, A.: Monoamine-containing structures in the hypothalamo-hypophyseal system in the human fetus. Z. Anat. Entwickl.-Gesch. 140, 53–60 (1973)
Partanen, S., Rechardt, L.: Histochemically demonstrable monoamines in the pituitary gland and median eminence of the female rat during the postnatal development. Z. Zellforsch. 147, 41–57 (1973)
Pearse, A. G. E.: Histochemistry. Theoretical and applied. London: J. and A. Churchill, Ltd. 1968
Pearse, A. G. E., MacGregor, M. M.: Functional cytology of the pituitary gland. Ann. Rep. Brit. Emp. Cancer Camp. 2, 665–666 (1964)
Pearse, A. G. E., Rost, F. W. D.: A new histochemical method for the, demonstration of tissue tryptophyl units by 2-acylation and ring closure., Histochem. J. 5, 577–578 (1973)
Previro, A., Prota, G., Coletti-Previro, M. A.. C-Acylation of the tryptophan indole ring and its usefulness in protein chemistry. Biochim. biophys. Acta (Amst.) 285, 269–278 (1972)
Tobyn, C., Leleux, P., Vanhaelst, L., Golstein, J., Herlant, M., Pasteels, J. L.: Immunohistochemical study of the human pituitary with anti-luteinizing hormone, anti-follicle stimulating hormone and anti-thyrotropin sera. Acta endocr. (Kbh.) 72, 625–642 (1973)
Rost, F. W. D., Ewen, S. W. B.: New methods for the histochemical demonstration of catecholamines, tryptamines, histamine and other arylethylamines by acid-and aldehyde-induced fluorescence. Histochem. J. 3, 207–212 (1971)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Partanen, S., Rechardt, L. & Bäck, N. Combined formaldehyde and acetyl chloride vapour condensation: A new fluorescence histochemical method for the demonstration of tryptophyl-peptide-containing endocrine cells of the hypophysis. Histochemistry 41, 119–131 (1974). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00499127
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00499127