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Fine structure of the Mongolian gerbil adrenal cortex

1971; Wiley; Volume: 171; Issue: 4 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1002/ar.1091710402

1097-0185

Peter A. Nickerson,

Adipose Tissue and Metabolism

Abstract The relative weight of the Mongolian gerbil adrenal is one of the largest of any animal species. The adrenal cortex of the gerbil can be divided into three major zones and one zone located between th zona fasciculata and zona reticularis. Mitochondrial cristae of zona glomerulosa cells are plate‐like, those of the zona fasciculata are tubular whereas cristae are extensively developed and plate‐like in the zona reticularis. Lipid droplets are numerous in fasciculata cells and sparse in glomerulosa and reticularis cells. Fasciculata and glomerulosa cells contain tubules of smooth endoplasmic reticulum whereas rough reticulum predominates in reticularis and border cells. Abundant lysosomes are found in glomerulosa cells; lysosomes are aggregated beneath the cell membrane of reticularis cells. Whorls of concentric lamellae of rough endoplasmic reticulum are localized exclusively to cells in the border zone. Cells in the border zone resemble those of the reticularis because of a virtual absence of smooth endoplasmic reticulum although mitochondrial cristae are tubular and therefore similar to those of the zona fasciculata. It is suggested that cells in the border zone represent a reserve of cells which may transform into fasciculata cells upon stimulation.