Cytological changes in the lachrymal gland following the administration of certain drugs

Abstract

During the course of an experimental investigation into the secretory mechanism of the lachrymal gland we were impressed by the varying responses of the gland to different drugs. Lome of these substances produced an activity which lasted for a considerable period while others gave rise to a very transitory secretion. In addition we noted the fact that the response of the gland to pilocrapine injections was by no means identical with that produced by stimulation of the lachrymal nerves. we were compelled therefore to study the locus of action of each particular drug which had been used. The presence of "secretory" granules in the lachrymal gland has been recorded by many observers (see Sundwall, 1926, for review of literature), but apparently little critical work has been carried out on the actual relation of these cytoplasmic inclusions to lachrymal secretion. In his monograph on “The Mitochondrial Constituents of protoplasm,” Cowdry (1918) discussed all the methods which had been used for the study of mitochondrial and cytoplasmic granules. He came to the conclusion that the fuchsin-methyl green method as modified by Bensley (1911) presented the fewest objections, and in consequence we adopted this method for our fixed material. We were influenced in this decision by Goetsch's work (1916) on the thyroid gland in which he was able to find a specific relationship between glandular activity and the mitochondrial content.