Cytological studies on the hypophysectomized rat adrenal cortex: the alterations of its fine structure following ACTH administration and on lowering the Na/K ratio.

Abstract

THIS work was undertaken as a sequel to an earlier electron microscopic investigation of the adrenal cortex in the normal rat (Lever, in press). The salient findings of this earlier study are as follows: (a) Throughout the cortex a subendothelial space separates the plasma membrane of the parenchyma! and sinusoidal endothelial cells, (b) Cells light and dark in respect of electron opacity are found in all zones and may represent phases in a secretory cycle, (c) In light cells large numbers of thin-walled polyhedral sacs lie in juxtaposition to the mitochondria, some of which are vacuolated. (d) Dark cells are characterised by large numbers of mitochondria, of compact internal form, lying in a relatively opaque background substance, (e) An osmiophile substance is either elaborated by or accumulates within the mitochondria, and in all cortical zones, forms are discernible intermediate between mitochondria per se and densely osmiophile bodies which are probably lipid droplets. The histology of the hypophysec...