On Staining the Basophil Cells of the Human Hypophysis With Special Reference to the Abnormal Basophil Cells of Cushing's Syndrome

Pathological abnormality in the basophil cells of the human hypophysis in cases of Cushing's syndrome may be very complex. A single basophil cell may show areas of normal granularity, areas of refractile hyaline cytoplasm (of Crooke), normal granules dispersed around vacuoles, conglomerations of small vacuoles outlined by delicate refractile cytoplasmic threads, one or more nuclei pressed out as a fine rind and scalloped by the vacuoles, and cytoplasmic processes extending out and embracing surrounding cells [McLetchie, 1944]. Though it may be that all this complexity is easily analysed in fresh material, this is not so in material 12–30 hr. post mortem, with which I, and most morbid anatomists, have to deal. I have found that if a stain is specific for β (basophil) granules then the hyaline cytoplasm of Crooke will appear unstained. While under certain conditions many dyes (iron and chrome haematoxylins, acid fuchsin, aniline blue, methyl blue, crystal