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The presence of nitric oxide synthase (NO-synthase), the enzyme responsible for the production of nitric oxide (NO) from L-arginine, is shown immunocytochemically in the intrinsic neurons of the human and porcine respiratory tract. NO-synthase immunoreactivity is demonstrated in a subpopulation of neurons of the microganglia present in the wall of the extra- and intrapulmonary bronchi as well as in the hilar region of the lung in relation to blood vessels. The immunostaining was also found in some nerve fibers of the respiratory nervous system. Human and porcine lung gave similar results. The possible involvement of NO in the nonadrenergic noncholinergic (NANC) nervous regulation of the lung is discussed.

The pancreatic endocrine component was studied at different stages of development in the tadpoles of Rana temporaria. The material was embedded in Epon, and serial semithin and thin sections were made in order to correlate ultrastructural features and tinctorial traits of the endocrine cells. Serial semithin sections were also stained with the peroxidase-antiperoxidase immunocytochemical method and with silver impregnations for argyrophilia and argentaffinity. In early larvae (legless tadpoles). A and B cells are present. Both can be found within ducts and exocrine tissue or, more frequently, in cellular clusters among the ducts and acini. These primitive islets are solid structures, surrounded but not penetrated by capillaries. Mitoses were observed in A and B cells. In the following phase (tadpoles with hindlegs), D and pancreatic polypeptide-immunoreactive cells are also present, as well as numerous endocrine cells scattered among exocrine tissue. There is also a change in the vascular-insular pattern: capillaries not only surround but also penetrate the endocrine group. The structure of the endocrine pancreas in older tadpoles is similar. Tinctorial traits and ultrastructural features of endocrine cells are described, and the origin of primitive islets is discussed.

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Silver methods were successfully applied to semithin sections of Epon-embedded material, in bronchial epithelium of the chicken lung, as well as in stomach and gut of the frog. Silver methods with some modifications characterize very well the cytoplasmic argyrophilic and argentaffin granules. They given good results in plastic-embedded material.