Using the immunoperoxidase technique and antisera to the specific beta () subunits of bovine and rat TSH1, selective immunocytochemical staining was localized in a specific cell population in the pars distalis of the dog pituitary gland. These TSH cells were found to be positive to aldehyde fuchsin, alcian blue, periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) and aniline blue. With the performic acidalcian blue (pH 0.2) -PAS-orange G procedure these cells stained blue-purple, demonstrating FSH/LH cells (blue or turquoise), ACTH/MSH cells (redpurple) and PRL cells (orange-red). The TSH cells were further differentiated from other functional cell types of the pars distalis on the basis of their typical cytological features, intraglandular distribution and by immunocytochemical double staining. In the pars distalis of adult male dogs the TSH cells were mostly shown to be smaller in size and less numerous than in bitches in the anestrous phase of the sexual cycle. Moreover, cytological alterations in the immunoreactive thyrotrophs in the pituitary of male and female dogs generally paralleled the spontaneous changes in thyroid function associated with thyroid atrophy and/or pituitary insufficiency, and thyroid hyperplasia or goiter. In conclusion, because of their specificity and high potency, the antisera to the -subunits of bovine and rat TSH represent an effective tool for the selective immunocytochemical localization of TSH in the dog pituitary. This allows the study of the morphology and function of TSH cells under different physiological, pathological and experimental conditions.

The effects of oral administration of 100 mg per kg per day cyproterone acetate (CPA) for four weeks on cells of the pars distalis, as revealed by the immunoperoxidase technique and chemical staining, were studied in the ovariectomized beagle bitch. For immunochemical staining antisera to the following hormones were used: canine GH, canine PRL, procine ACHT, bovine TSH beta, bovine LH beta and human FSH beta1. The most striking effects of the treatment were an overall increase in the relative proportion of GH cells and a marked morphological indication of high secretory activity in these cells. In contrast, PRL cells were not affected significantly. In all ovariectomized control bitches a marked atrophy of the cells stained for FSH beta (FSH cells) and hypertrophy of the cells shown to contain LH beta (LH cells) were observed. FSH cells became enlarged, while LH cells appeared reduced in size by administration of CPA. In some treated bitches ACTH/MSH cells showed atrophy and regressive changes, whereas TSH cells seemed to become enlarged and were more densely arranged. These structural responses indicate that, in addition to its partial antigonadotropic properties, CPA as a synthetic progesterone derivative may stimulate GH secretion and possibly suppress CRH-ACTH activity in the ovariectomized beagle bitch.

Using the immunoperoxidase technique and specific homologous antisera to highly purified canine prolactin (PRL)1 and canine growth hormone (GH), selective immunocytochemical staining was localized in two different cell types in the pars distalis of the dog pituitary gland. The specificity and validity of both antisera were demonstrated by elimination of their immunostaining capacity after prior absorption with their respective antigens, while absorption with other antigens failed to decrease staining intensity. This was further confirmed by studying the immunologic behavior of both antisera in the agar gel double diffusion immunoprecipitin test and by competitive radioactive binding analysis. The specific heterologous antisera to ovine PRL and human GH were shown to be just as useful as antisera to canine hormones for immunocytochemical demonstration of the individuality of PRL and GH cells in the dog pituitary. This confirms the validity and specific of our hitherto heterologous immunocytochemical procedure. However, because of their high potency the anti-canine GH and anticanine PRL sera seem to be more efficient for immunocytochemical staining of the dog pituitary. The immunoreactive PRL and GH cells were also distinguished with reasonable certainity in two different populations of acidophils according to their tinctorial affinity. Both cell types differed further from each other in respect of their relative proportion, morphology and topography, which were variously pronounced for each sex.

Using the immunoperoxidase technique and antisera to the specific beta (beta) subunits of FSH and LH1, selective immunochemical staining was localized mostly in the same cell type in the pars distalis and pars tuberalis of the dog pituitary gland. However, some cells were consistently shown to react solely with antisera to either LH beta of FSH beta. The cells stained for FSH beta were at least 1.5 times less numerous than those shown to contain LH beta. In the pars distalis of adult male dogs the immunoreactive gonadotrophs varied greatly in their relative proportion and were mostly shown to be much less numerous than in bitches in the anestrus phase of the sexual cycle. These cells were found to be positive to aldehyde fuchsin, alcian blue, periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) and aniline blue. The performic acid-alcian blue (pH 0.2)-PAS-orange G procedure stained the FSH/LH cells blue or turquoise, demonstrating TSH cells (blue-purple), ACTH/MSH cells (red-purple) and PRL cells (orange-red). The FSH/LH cells were further differentiated from other functional cell types of the pars distalis on the basis of their typical cytological features, intraglandular distribution and by immunochemical double staining. These observations support the concept that the one cell-one hormone theory may not apply to gonadotrophic hormones, although some cells seem to be the source of either FSH or LH.

1. The histological and the histochemical characteristics of the buffalo cervix during the estrus cycle were studied on 52 specimens collected at the different phases of the cycle. 2. The surface epithelium is of the simple columnar type and reaches its maximum height (25–36 μ) at estrus. 3. The cervical glands are of the branched tubular variety and are restricted to the lateral wall of the cranial part of the cervix. 4. The acid mucopolysaccharide material within both the surface and the glandular epithelium reaches its maximum amount at estrus. 5. The basophilic substances reach their maximum at diestrus. 6. The lipid content of both the surface and glandular epithelium is negligible at estrus but sudanophilic granules appear at diestrus.

1. The histological and the histochemical characteristics of the buffalo cervix during the estrus cycle were studied on 52 specimens collected at the different phases of the cycle. 2. The surface epithelium is of the simple columnar type and reaches its maximum height (25–36 μ) at estrus. 3. The cervical glands are of the branched tubular variety and are restricted to the lateral wall of the cranial part of the cervix. 4. The acid mucopolysaccharide material within both the surface and the glandular epithelium reaches its maximum amount at estrus. 5. The basophilic substances reach their maximum at diestrus. 6. The lipid content of both the surface and glandular epithelium is negligible at estrus but sudanophilic granules appear at diestrus.

The deterioration of environmental quality through contamination of air, water, soil and food has existed as a serious problem under the ever-increasing population and industrialization of the society. Dioxins are considered of the most dangerous environmental pollutants that persist and bioaccumulate in different environmental compartments. 2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) was shown to be highly toxic compound to different animal species. The environmental and health effects of this compound which, is a member of a large family of halogenated aromatic hydrocarbons, have been studied. In this study, the effects of TCDD on the hemogram of albino rats have been studied after oral exposure to sublethal doses for short and long term. In the first experiment, rats were once orally intubated with 4.4 μg/kg body weight TCDD in corn oil while in the second one; rats were intubated 0.44 μg/kg body weight TCDD in corn oil day after day for 12 weeks. Exposure of albino rats to TCDD results in variable degree of anemia as significant decrease in RBCs, Hb and PCV has been recorded in acutely toxicated animals. This decrease indicates microcytic hypochromic anemia in acutely TCDD-orally-exposed rats. Meanwhile, in long term toxicity animals, there was significant increase in RBCs and PCV accompanied with decrease in Hb concentration which indicates macrocytic hypochromic anemia. Total Leucocytic count showed significant decrease in animals acutely or chronically treated with TCDD after 24 hours and till the end of the experiments. These results were accompanied with hypoplasia of bone marrow of the tested animals as significant decrease was recorded in lymphocytes, monocytes and eosinophils count as well as their percentages. TCDD has myelotoxic effects on bone marrow appeared in the form of hypoplasia as well as apoptosis of its cellularity. Lymphocytes, monocytes, eosinophils and megakaryocytic series were severely affected by feeding TCDD. These effects shown to be time-dependant as it increases with the elongation of the time of exposure. Anemia together with bone marrow affection and other parameters of impairment of hepatic functions are indicative for hematotoxic effects of TCDD.

The deterioration of environmental quality through contamination of air, water, soil and food has existed as a serious problem under the ever-increasing population and industrialization of the society. Dioxins are considered of the most dangerous environmental pollutants that persist and bioaccumulate in different environmental compartments. 2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) was shown to be highly toxic compound to different animal species. The environmental and health effects of this compound which, is a member of a large family of halogenated aromatic hydrocarbons, have been studied. In this study, the effects of TCDD on the hemogram of albino rats have been studied after oral exposure to sublethal doses for short and long term. In the first experiment, rats were once orally intubated with 4.4 μg/kg body weight TCDD in corn oil while in the second one; rats were intubated 0.44 μg/kg body weight TCDD in corn oil day after day for 12 weeks. Exposure of albino rats to TCDD results in variable degree of anemia as significant decrease in RBCs, Hb and PCV has been recorded in acutely toxicated animals. This decrease indicates microcytic hypochromic anemia in acutely TCDD-orally-exposed rats. Meanwhile, in long term toxicity animals, there was significant increase in RBCs and PCV accompanied with decrease in Hb concentration which indicates macrocytic hypochromic anemia. Total Leucocytic count showed significant decrease in animals acutely or chronically treated with TCDD after 24 hours and till the end of the experiments. These results were accompanied with hypoplasia of bone marrow of the tested animals as significant decrease was recorded in lymphocytes, monocytes and eosinophils count as well as their percentages. TCDD has myelotoxic effects on bone marrow appeared in the form of hypoplasia as well as apoptosis of its cellularity. Lymphocytes, monocytes, eosinophils and megakaryocytic series were severely affected by feeding TCDD. These effects shown to be time-dependant as it increases with the elongation of the time of exposure. Anemia together with bone marrow affection and other parameters of impairment of hepatic functions are indicative for hematotoxic effects of TCDD.