Studies upon the Gram Reaction of the Basiphil Cells of the Anterior Pituitary

To investigate the effects of fixation on the Gram reaction in the pituitary basiphil granules, frozen sections were made from fixed and unfixed glands, paraffin sections from frozen-dried glands, and paraffin sections in the usual way from whole glands, as well as from several pieces of glands embedded in one block. The fixatives were various well-known mixtures and single substances. Staphylococci were also studied, after treatment with some of the fixatives. The basiphil granules were always Gram-positive after fixation in formaldehydesaline, formaldehyde-Zenker, Zenker's fluid, and Zenker stock-solution. Frozen sections of unfixed glands, and sections of frozen-dried glands, were always Gramnegative ; but such sections were usually Gram-positive if left in formaldehyde-saline for at least 12 hours before staining. All other fixatives studied gave negative results. The staphylococci were always Gram-positive. These findings, and some questions arising from them, are briefly discussed.