A comparative histochemical and immunocytochemical study on the secretory material in the subcommissural organ of Rana temporaria L.

The secretory material within the cells of the subcommissural organ (SCO) of Rana temporaria has been studied histochemically by application of a classical staining method and immunocytochemically by use of an antiserum (gift of Prof. Sterba, Leipzig) raised against bovine liquor fibre (LF) material, the LF being the secretory product of the SCO. The immunocytochemical method appears to be more specific and more sensitive than the histochemical staining method. The LF can also be visualized immunocytochemically; the fibre reacting equally positively from the SCO until the spinal cord's end. A significant positive linear correlation exists both between the amounts of histochemically and of immunocytochemically stained material and between their concentrations. The suitability of the immunocytochemical staining method for quantification of the secretory material within the cells of the SCO is discussed.