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Ultrastructural changes were studied in the cells undergoing secretory differentiation in zone I of the tubules of the uropygial gland of White Plymouth Rock chickens. A layer of basal cells and four secretory stages are recognized as the cells migrate from the periphery to the lumen of tubules and progressively elaborate a secretion product. Basal cells, containing rough endoplasmic reticulum and free ribosomes, rest on the basement membrane and are the source from which secretory cells arise. Dilated perinuclear cisternae and the proliferation of smooth endoplasmic reticulum in the form of vesicles, invaginated sacs and cusp-shaped cisternae indicate the onset of lipgenesis in stage I cells. The perinuclear cisternae are more dilated and the endoplasmic reticulum is composed on saccules and cisternae in stage II cells. Stage III cells are characterized by concentric lamellae of endoplasmic reticulum surrounding secretory droplets. Dilated cisternae of endoplasmic reticulum and secretory droplets both contain a reticular substance. The perinuclear cisternae of stage III cells have returned to normal dimensions. Large mature lucent secretory droplets, lined with electron-dense material, fill the cytoplasm ostage IV cells which degenerate and release their secretory product into the tubule lumen. Spherical membrane-bound compartments containing a mottled substance of moderate electron density occur in basal cells and all subsequent secretory stages. These mottled bodies are surrounded by saccules of endoplasmic reticulum in stage II cells and are intimately associated with secretory droplets in stage III cells, but there is no evidence that they give rise to secretory droplets and their role in secretory differentiation is unknown.

1. A special cell numerously occuring in the epidermis of the anuran larva of Ascaphus truei which must be called ball cell because of its usual shape, more thoroughly has been investigated by microscope. Especially plain preparations besides cross sections stained in customary way, respectively worked up histochemically with regard to orientation, were used for that. 2. The ball cell-the very characteristical epidermal attribute of Ascaphus larva-is an exocrine element with apparently far extending continuous merocrine secretion. The product contains mucous substances partly being of acid kind. The activity in any case is extending to metamorphosis. 3. Altogether the cells are forming a simple endoepidermal plain gland with differently displayed parts: strong condensation of the elements, for instance, in a circumoral zone, scanty distribution in the whole middle back over all.

Morphological changes in the venom gland of V. ammodytes were studied after the removal of the venom from the gland lumina (milking) It was found that the height of the secretory cells was changed during the secretory cycle. The patterns of the rough endoplasmic reticulum and of the Golgi complex were changed as well Milking induced an increased incorporation of [(14)C]amino acids into total and venom proteins In V ammodytes, during the first day after milking, 25% of the total counts in protein were precipitable by anti-venom serum, while at 8 days, 80% of the proteins synthesized were venom proteins At this stage, the incorporation was 10- and 20-fold that of unmilked glands for total and venom proteins, respectively. Venom was accumulated (secreted) in the gland lumina of V. ammodytes at a relatively high rate up to 2 wk after milking and leveled off afterwards. Intact glands and gland slices of V ammodytes and V palaestinae, taken from snakes a few days after milking, incorporated [(14)C]amino acids into proteins in vitro at a rate higher than that of unmilked glands. The activity of two exportable enzymes (phosphodiesterase and benzoyl arginyl ethyl esterase) was assayed in gland homogenates of V. ammodytes. It was found that 2-3 wk after milking, the intracellular level of these enzymes was up to 2-fold that of unmilked glands.