THE EFFECT OF CASTEATION ON THE ANTERIOR HYPOPHYSIS OF THE FEMALE RAT1

Abstract

Although changes following castration were described in the anterior pituitaries of cattle, buffaloes and fowls as early as 1905 (Fichera), the earliest investigation on the effect of castration on the anterior pituitary of the albino rat was that of Zacherl reported by Biedl in 1912. He described an increase in the volume of the organ and a diminution in the number of aeidophiles, but of most interest was his description of a new cell type which he designated as a castration cell. He did not determine the origin of this new cell type. Addison in 1917, using male rats, presented a more complete histologieal analysis of the changes occurring in the anterior hypophysis after castration. He described an early increase in the number and size of the basophiles, the larger ones becoming vacuolated in two months after castration. With the increase in the size and number of these vacuoles, the cytoplasm and nuclei were pushed to the side, producing the typical castration cell or “signet-ring” cell. Colloid filling the hypophyseal cleft Avas found in many of the castrated animals. An increase in size of the anterior lobe capillaries was also mentioned.