Ultrastructure of Mitotic Cells in Paraganglia of the Syrian Hamster

Abstract

Extra-adrenal chromaffin tissue classified as paraganglia is said to exert its greatest influence during prenatal life while the adrenal medulla is still largely undifferentiated. Various reports indicate that the majority of paraganglionic tissue in the mouse, rat, guinea pig and human involutes rapidly following birth, at which time the adrenal medulla and sympathetic nervous system come into prominence. Ultrastructural observations of hamster abdominal paraganglia have shown that this tissue is precocious, and it is interesting to note that mitotic cells are observed in these organs of neuroectodermal origin.Syrian hamsters 13 days of age or less were perfused with 3% glutaraldehyde buffered with 0.2M phosphate to pH 7.1-7.2.