The Cytochemical Bioassay of Polypeptide Hormones

1. Nature of Cytochemistry.- A. Definitions and Origins.- B. Relationship Between Cytochemistry and Biochemistry.- 2. Basic Concepts of Hormone Assays.- A. Two Ways of Assaying a Biologically Active Molecule.- B. Radio-immunoassay.- C. Drawback of the Analytical Approach.- D. The Need for Microbioassays.- 3. Introduction to Cytochemical Bioassay.- A. Criteria for Bioassays.- B. Cytochemical Bioassays.- C. Special Features of Cytochemical Bioassays.- IV. Physiological Studies.- 4. Maintenance Culture.- A. Importance of Organ Culture.- B. Earlier Use of Organ Culture.- C. Maintenance Culture as Used in Cytochemical Bioassays.- 5. Cytochemical Methods.- A. Basic Procedures.- C. Cytochemical Investigation of Lysosomal Function.- 6. Microdensitometry.- A. Development of Microspectrophotometry.- B. Microdensitometry.- 7. The Segment Assay of the Adrenocorticotrophic Hormone.- A. Rationale.- B. Cytochemical Segment Assay of ACTH.- 8. The Section Assay of Adrenocorticotrophin.- A. Background.- B. Cytochemical Section Assay of ACTH.- C. Validation.- 9. Application of Cytochemical Bioassays of Adrenocorticotrophin.- A. Physiological Studies.- B. Advantages of a Very Sensitive Assay.- C. Insulin-Hypoglycaemia Test of Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal Function.- 10. The Assay of Thyroid Stimulators.- A. Background.- B. Cytochemical Segment Assay of Thyroid Stimulators.- C. Cytochemical Section Assay of Thyroid Stimulators.- D. A Possible Mechanism for the Action of Thyroid Stimulators.- E. Influence of Thyrotrophin on Oxidative Metabolism.- 11. Luteinizing Hormone.- A. Background Information.- B. Cytochemical Bioassay of Luteinizing Hormone.- 12. Gastrin-like Activity.- A. Background.- B. Cytochemical Segment Assay.- C. Cytochemical Section Assay.- D.Validation.- E. Physiological Studies.- 13. Parathyroid Hormone.- A. Background Information.- B. Cytochemical Bioassay of Parathyroid Hormone.- 14. Hypophysiotrophic Hormones: Two-Step Bioassays.- A. Background.- B. Thyrotrophin-Releasing Hormone.- C. Corticotrophin-Releasing Factor.- 15. Prospects: Uses of the Cytochemical Bioassay System.- A. Bioassay of Hormones.- B. Cytochemistry as Cellular Chemical Pathology.- C. Study of Biologically Active Molecules.- D. Conclusion.- Appendix 1. Maintenance Culture.- Appendix 2. Microdensitometry with the Viekers M85 Microdensitometer.- Appendix 3. Main Cytochemical Reactions Used in These Assays.- Appendix 4. Dilution of the Standard Reference Preparations.- References.