Evaluation of Procedures for the Cytological Localization of Ketosteroids

Abstract

Publisher Summary The organs believed to be solely responsible for the production of steroid hormones in mammals are the adrenal cortex, the testis, the ovary, and the placenta. This chapter discusses the histochemical methods that have been developed to identify the sites of concentration and probable formation of the hormones in these organs. Some of the early histological studies that revealed the peculiarities of the lipids in these organs are presented in the chapter. Certain lipid droplets occurring in organs known to produce steroid hormones contain steroid substances as demonstrated by several histochemical techniques. Carbonyl containing lipids can also be demonstrated in the droplets but only after the tissue has been fixed in formalin or treated in various ways. In general, most of the histological procedures used up to the present have led to the appearance of aldehydic carbonyl groups, presumably by oxidation of unsaturated fatty acids or other susceptible lipids. Such aldehydic material can be demonstrated by Schiff's reagent as well as by reaction with hydrazines. Simple aldehydes produced by the oxidation of lipid can be rendered unreactive to the hydrazide reagent by the formation of Schiff base with aniline.