An improved histochemical technique for differentiating adrenaline-and noradrenaline-containing cells

Background. Sevki's histochemical technique allows specific staining of catechomamine-containing cells, yet discrimiantion between adrenaline-(ADR-) cells and noradrenaline-(NOR-) cells is unrealiable, being based on hue differences. Methods. In this work, histochemical differentiation of ADR- and NOR-cells in rat adrenal medulla was carried out by introducing two modifications to Sevki's technique: 1) employment of aged Giemsa solution, and 2) addition of an alkaline differentiating step. Results. With these changes, ADR-cell stained brown, whereas NOR-cells were deep-green, resulting in a clear-cut differentiation. Conclusions. The modified technique permits to differentiate ADR- from NOR-cells in the adrenal medulla using only a bright field microscope without any sophisticated equipment. The present procedure is inexpensive and easy to carry out

Unusual peals of oxygen consumption under special alimentary conditions

Oxygen consumption (VO2), carbon dioxide production (VCO2), the resulting respiratory quotient (RQ), and motor activity were recorded simultaneously by an on-line computer every seconds during 16-20 hours in two decerebrate male rats. Being aphagic and adipsic the rats were fed twice daily by gastric intubation with a mixture of powdered milk plus sugar or plus surflower oil (approx. 300 KJ daily) in 10-20 ml tap water. In all seven tests performed on these rats the recordings presented very steep reductions of RQ due every time to steep increases in VO2 without increases in VCO2 mean number of VO2 peals in all experiments was 12.4+- 1.8 (SE) with mean duration of 21.3+-2.8min. Two normal male rats were fed the same diet and on the same schedule: