Genetic variation in number of pituitary PAS-purple cells in the house mouse.

A genetic variation in the number of pituitary PAS-purple cells in the house mouse is described. C57BL/K1 mice have low and DBA/2/K1 mice have high numbers of these cells in both peripheral and central parts of the anterior pituitary gland. The variation may be due to a single locus with incomplete dominance for the low-number allele. There is no correlation with glucuronidase or galactosidase activities and no association with the b and d loci.