HISTOCHEMICAL DEMONSTRATION OF CHANGES IN THE ACTIVITY OF ALKALINE AND ACID PHOSPHATASES IN THE ADRENAL OF A MIGRATORY STARLING

Abstract

The activity of alkaline and acid Phosphatases was studied in adrenal cortex and medulla at the beginning and the end of the period of preparation for migration in the migratory starling, Sturnus roseus. Alkaline phosphatase in cortex and acid phosphatase in medulla showed very high increases as migration approached. The increase in alkaline phosphatase activity is correlated with increase in adrenocorticotropic hormone, ribonucleic acid, corticoids and fat in adrenal cortex, and the increase in acid phosphatase in adrenal medulla with increase in adrenalin and nor-adrenalin production. The increase in acid phosphatase in the nuclei of the cortical and medullary cells is correlated with increased nucleic acid metabolism.