Morphofunctional changes in the adrenal glands of juvenile rats systematically exposed to hypergravity

Abstract

Aim of this study was to assess morphofunctional transformations in the adrenal glands of juvenile rats systematically exposed to +Gx acceleration. Material and Methods ― Rats in the experimental group were exposed to transversely-directed gravitational overloads (9 G) produced by experimental centrifuge C-2/500 (three times, each time 3 minutes exposure with 30 seconds break between sets). Microscopical, histomorphometric (thickness of cortical zones; cortex-medulla ratio; absolute and relative area of zona glomerulosa, zona fasciculate, zona reticularis, and medulla; number and density of cells in each zone; area of nuclei, cytoplasm and liposomes in endocrinocytes), ultrastructural and statistical methods were used. Results ― Structural transformations found in adrenal glands are adaptive responses to stress and hemodynamic changes caused by systematic influence of gravitational overloads. The expressed hemodynamic changes combined with stress-induced morphofunctional transformations, manifested as signs of functional stress of cortical and medullar endocrinocytes on the background of dystrophic and destructive ultrastructural changes were revealed. Increase of number of exposures to 45 leads to further stabilization of morphofunctional condition of adrenal glands. Conclusion ― Structural transformations and features of the functional tension of the cortical and medullary endocrinocytes are limited as “systemic structural trace”.