Electron microscopic study on the parathyroid gland of the newt Triturus pyrrhogaster (boié) in natural hibernation

The parathyroid gland of newts in natural hibernation was studied by means of the electron microscope. There were two types of epithelial cells in the parenchyma: one type having numerous filaments and a few cell organoids and other inclusions, and the other type containing few filaments and many cell organoids and other inclusions. Cells of the first type rested on a basement membrane bounding the connective tissue and were termed “basal cells.” Cells of the second type were in a suprabasal position and formed the remainder of the parenchyma. These cells were referred to as “suprabasal cells.” The basal cells might be supporting, rather than secretory, cells. In the suprabasal cells, the nature of the dense bodies, vacuolar bodies, and heterogeneously dense, irregularly shaped masses was discussed. It was suggested that the dense and vacuolar bodies may be lysosomal, the irregularly shaped masses may be lipofuscin pigments in nature, and both might be associated with a control mechanism for secretion.