Abstract
Parathyroid glands of seven species were studied by enzyme histochemical reactions for NADH-DH, SDH, α-GPD, β-HBD, ALPase, ACPase, and AChE. An intense reaction for NADH-DH was found only in the glands from rabbits while the others were strong to weak. A high intensity for α-GPD was found in the glands from sheep, pigs, and rabbits while those of the others did not show specificity with the enzyme reaction. The parenchymal cells of the glands of sheep and chickens reacted for ALPase, whereas those of the other species did only in the vascular walls. The ACPase reaction of the glands was intense in chickens, moderate in pigs, and weak in other species. The C-cells of the internal parathyroid glands within thyroid glands of rabbits reacted moderately for AChE, but the external glands of rabbits and those of the other species did negatively. The parathyroid glands of chickens were different from those of the other species in histochemical properties. Histochemically they showed the characteristics of hyperfunction demanded by increased Ca metabolism.
