Der Geschlechtsdimorphismus der Nebennierenrinde der Ratte

Zusammenfassung An 260 männlichen und weiblichen Sprague-Daweley-Ratten vom 0. Lebenstag bis zur 12. Lebenswoche wird die geschlechtsdifferente Entwicklung der Nebennierenrinde histologisch und histometrisch verfolgt.Von der 4. Lebenswoche an ist die weibliche Fasciculatazelle durch ein helles, fein-granuläres Cytoplasma ohne distinkt abgrenzbare Fettvakuolen ausgezeichnet, während beim Männchen in einem kompakten Cytoplasma zunehmend größere, deutlich begrenzte Vakuolen auftreten. Im Blindversuch gelingt aufgrund dieser Kriterien die Geschlechtsdiagnose mit großer Treffsicherheit.Nach histometrischen Untersuchungen sind die weiblichen Fasciculatakerne größer als die männlichen. Bei größerem Zellvolumen ist die Kernzahl/Flächeneinheit beim Weibchen von der Pubertät an kleiner. Die Glomerulosa und die inneren Rindenschichten zeigen keine Geschlechtsdifferenzen. Fermenthistochemisch ist eine Geschlechtsdifferenz nicht nachweisbar.Die relative Zellhypertrophie in der Fasciculata der weiblichen Nebennierenrinde ist das morphologische Äquivalent eines geschlechtsdifferenten Steroidmetabolismus bei der Ratte.

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Sex differences in the adrenal cortex of the ratLight microscopic and histometric studies

Summary In 260 male and female Sprague-Dawley CD rats the sex dependent development of the adrenal cortex was studied histologically and by histometric procedures.Beginning in the 4th week of life the parenchymal cells in the fasciculata of the female animals are characterized by a light, finely granular cytoplasm without distinct lipid vacuoles. In the males, however, the cells show a dense, compact cytoplasm with clearly visible vacuoles increasing in size. In a blind test the sex diagnosis can be established with great accuracy.Histometrically the nuclei in the female fasciculata cells are larger than in the males. Furthermore, caused by a larger cell volume the number of nuclei per square unit is smaller in postpuberal females.The glomerulosa and the inner parts of the cortex do not show any sex differences, nor does enzyme histochemistry.The relative cellular hypertrophy in the fasciculata of the female adrenal cortex represents the morphologic equivalent of the sexual differences in the rats steroid metabolism.

Die Untersuchungen wurden mit Hilfe der Deutschen Forschungsgemeinschaft durchgeführt. — Für die sorgfältige und unermüdliche technische Mithilfe danken wir Frau B. Kubatsch.     

Autoradiographische Untersuchungen zum Wachstum der Nebennierenrinde der Ratte

Zusammenfassung Anhand des Verlaufs des ³H-Index und der Mitoserate in Anhängigkeit vom Lebensalter wurde die Proliferationsaktivität in den Zonen der Nebennierenrinde untersucht. 84 SPF-Ratten erhielten 2 Ci/g ³H-Thymidin i.p.; der Untersuchungszeitraum erstreckte sich vom 18. Trächtigkeitstag bis zur 12. Lebenswoche. Alle Zonen zeigten in der Rangfolge Glomerulosa — Fasciculata — Reticularis eine Abnahme DNS-synthetisierender Zellkerne. Geschlechtsspezifische Unterschiede im Ausmaß der Proliferationsaktivität konnten zu keiner Zeit nachgewiesen werden. Aus der Dissoziation der Kurven des ³H-Index und der Mitoserate bei vergleichbaren DNS-Syntheseraten wird auf eine Änderung der G₂-Phase des Generationszyklus der NNR-Zellen in der teilexponentiellen Wachstumsphase geschlossen.

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Radioautographic studies on the growth of the adrenal cortex in rats

Summary In 84 SPF-rats the poliferative activity of the adrenal cortical cells was studied from the 18th day of pregnancy up to 12 weeks post partum. Rats were given 2 C/g tritiated thymidine and killed 1 hour thereafter. It was shown that there was no sex-related difference in the degree of proliferation that could explain the sexual dimorphism in adrenal weights. In all cortical zones a decrease in the number of labeled cells was seen during the obvservation period. The highest percentage of labeled cells was found in the glomerulosa. There exists no parallelism of the mitotic and labeling index, which gives evidence for a change in length of the G₂-phase of the cell generation cycle.

Herrn Fleissig und Herrn Kürsamer danken wir für Ihre Mithilfe bei der technischen Durchführung der Experimente.     

Investigations on the turnover of adrenocortical mitochondria

Summary The effects of chronic administration of ACTH (up to 36 consecutive days) on the mitochondria of the zona reticularis of the rat adrenal cortex were investigated by stereologic techniques. It was found that ACTH induces two phases of hypertrophy of mitochondria alternating with two proliferative stages, which are associated with a significant decrease in the average volume of the organelles. It is suggested that, as in the zona fasciculata, ACTH controls the processes of growth and division of mitochondria in the zona reticularis. The mechanism underlying this action of ACTH as well as the differences between the responses to ACTH of the mitochondrial population of the two adrenal zones are discussed in the light of evidence indicating that mitochondria contain a complete genetic apparatus largely independent of nuclear control.The authors wish to thank Miss A. Coi and Mr. G. Gottardo for their excellent technical assistance. This work was partly supported by a contract with the CNR (C.T. 73.00663.04)     

Primary tissue culture of human adult adrenocortical cells. Methodology and electron microscopic observations on ACTH-deprived and ACTH-treated cortical cells

Summary A method of primary tissue culture involving both disaggregation of cells by repeated exposure of small tissue fragments to a solution of trypsin, collagenase and hyaluronidase and explantation of the residual tissue fragments intermingled with isolated cells onto polyethylene discs, has been shown to be adequate for the prolonged maintenance (up to 30 days) in vitro of cells arising from decapsulated adult human adrenocortical tissue. The technique and its critical points are discussed.Adrenocortical cells were organized both as outgrowing columns from microexplants or as variously sized islets of monolayered cells. The ultrastructural features of ACTH-deprived adrenocortical cells (i.e., mitochondria with laminar cristae, endoplasmic reticulum mainly consisting of rough profiles, abundance of lipid droplets and -glycogen particles) suggest that the cells dedifferentiate and retain practically no steroidogenic activity.After 2 days of ACTH-treatment, cultured parenchymal cells were found to be quite similar to the zona fasciculata elements of the normal human adrenal cortex. They were grouped in islets of about 50–100 cells. Rough endoplasmic reticulum had decreased, but smooth endoplasmic reticulum showed focal proliferation. The pleomorphic mitochondria with laminar cristae, transformed into a homogeneous population of round or ovoid mitochondria containing tubulo-vesicular cristae. Lipid droplets and glycogen particles were decreased in number.After 7 days of daily treatment with ACTH, the cortical elements, whose nucleus and cytoplasm seemed to be enlarged, were arranged in clusters formed by up to 300 monolayered elements, in which dividing cells were consistently observed. Their cytoplasm was filled with a meshwork of smooth reticulum tubules, in which scantly ribosome-studded profiles and occasional small stacks of granular cisternae were embedded. Mitochondria were similar to those of the 2 days ACTH-treated cultures. Lipid droplets and glycogen particles were absent. The functional significance of these structural changes as well as the possible mechanism underlying the differentiative effect of ACTH are discussed.Primary cultures of human adult adrenals are proposed as a new tool for studies into the physiopathology of the adrenocortical cells under carefully controlled experimental conditions.mis|It is a pleasure to acknowledge our thanks to Drs. F. Mantero and C. Eccher for kindly supplying the normal human adrenocortical tissue. Thanks are also due to Mr. G. Gottardo for his excellent technical assistance.mis|This work was partly supported by a contract with the CNR-Italy (C.T. 73.00663.04).A preliminary report on part of this work was given at the Annual Meeting of the European Tissue Culture Society, Genua, May 1974, and at the Annual Meeting of the Société Française de Microscopie Electronique, Rennes, May 1974, and published as short communication in The Journal of Endocrinology 63, 247, 1974.     

Die Feinstruktur der interstitiellen Grundsubstanz im inneren Nierenmark der Ratte bei verschiedenen Fixierungsarten

Zusammenfassung Das Interstitium des inneren Nierenmarkes von Ratten wurde nach Anwendung verschiedener Fixierungsarten und Versuchsanordnungen elektronenmikroskopisch untersucht. Neben Bindegewebszellen und kollagenen Fibrillen enthält der interstitielle Raum bandförmige, basalmembranartige Strukturen, in deren weiträumigen Maschen zwei weitere Komponenten, nämlich ein feingranuläres und feinfilamentäres Material sowie kontrastreiche, globuläre Partikel liegen. Diese beiden Formelemente stellen sich bei den verschiedenen Fixierungsarten und Versuchsanordnungen unterschiedlich dar. Bei der feingranulären und feinfilamentären Komponente handelt es sich wahrscheinlich um interstitielles Blutplasma. Diese Deutung wird gestützt durch die morphologische Ähnlichkeit mit dem Blutplasma der Blutgefäße, die unterschiedliche Darstellbarkeit nach Glutardialdehyd-und Formalinfixierung sowie durch die Befunde nach Gefäßperfusion und Nierenvenenstauung. Das Verhalten der globulären Partikel nach OsO₄-Einwirkung steht in Einklang mit der schon früher gegebenen Interpretation als präzipitierte saure Mukopolysaccharide. Ihr elektronenoptisches Bild wird im Vergleich zur bekannten makromolekularen Struktur der Mukopolysaccharid-Protein-Moleküle diskutiert.

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The ultrastructure of the interstitial ground substance in the inner medulla of the rat kidney investigated after various fixations

Summary The interstitial ground substance in the inner medulla of the rat kidney is examined electron microscopically after fixation with various fixation agents and under different experimental conditions. The papillary interstitium contains besides interstitial cells and few collagen fibrils basement membrane like material and two other components, fine granular-fibrillar elements and globular particles with heavy contrast. The appearance of the two latter interstitial components varies according to the different fixation agents used and to the experimental conditions. The fine granular and fine fibrillar material surrounds the globular particles numerously after glutardialdehyde-fixation but scarcely after formaldehyde-fixation. It increases after renal vein occlusion, but is diminished or absent, if the kidney is rinsed bloodfree. These results allow to conclude that this material represents interstitial bloodplasma. The behaviour of the globular particles after OsO₄-fixation agrees well with the earlier interpretation according to which they represent precipitated acid mucopolysaccharides. Their electron microscopic appearance is discussed in comparison with the known macromolecular structure of the acid mucopolysaccharides.

Mit Unterstützung durch die Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft.     

Tissue culture of rat adult decapsulated adrenal glands

Summary A method of cultivation involving both repeated trypsinisations (at room temperature) and explantation of the tissue fragments on polythene discs has been shown to be apt to the growth in vitro of rat adult decapsulated adreno-cortical tissue. This is the first time that the successful cultivation of such a tissue is reported. The technique and its applications are discussed.The effects of _1–24 corticotrophin (ACTH_1–24) on the rat adult adrenal cultures have been examined by both electron microscopy and autoradiography. Zona fasciculata and reticularis cells grown in the absence of ACTH for long terms (15–16 days) survive and proliferate as dedifferentiated elements. If ACTH_1–24 is added to the cultures, adrenocortical cells will, within 2 days, simultaneously increase their proliferation rate and differentiate. After 7 days of treatment, cortical cells exhibit not only fully differentiated but even hypertrophic morphologic features. Significant stimulations of adrenal DNA, RNA and gross protein synthesis have been found to take place at different times after the starting of the ACTH_1–24 treatment. These data are discussed in relation to the findings previously reported in literature.Rat adult adrenal gland tissue cultures are proposed as a non-previously available tool for investigations into the physiopathology of the adrenal cells to be carried out in a carefully controlled environment.A Preliminary report on part of this material was given at the annual meeting of the Société Française de Microscopie Elécronique, Nantes, May 1972.Authors wish to thank Drs. P. G. Andreis and A. S. Belloni for their skilful assistance in the autoradiographic experiments. Thanks are also due to Mr. G. Gottardo for his excellent technical help in electron microscopic work. This work was partly supported by a contract with the CNR-Italy (No 69.0172/115.3439).     

Evidence that an extrahypothalamic pituitary corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH)/adrenocorticotropin (ACTH) system controls adrenal growth and secretion in rats

Within two weeks, hypophysectomy induced in rats a striking decrease in the level of circulating ACTH (the concentration of which was at the limit of sensitivity of our assay system), coupled with a net reduction in the plasma corticosterone concentration and an evident adrenal atrophy. Zona fasciculata, the main producer of glucocorticoids, was decreased in volume, due to a lowering in both the number and average volume of its parenchymal cells. Subcutaneous ACTH infusion (0.1 pmol·min^-1), administered during the last week following hypophysectomy, restored the normal blood level of ACTH and completely reversed all effects of hypophysectomy on the adrenals. Subcutaneous infusion for one week with -helical-CRH or corticotropin-inhibiting peptide (1 nmol·min^-1), which are competitive inhibitors of CRH and ACTH, evoked a further significant lowering of plasma corticosterone concentration and markedly enhanced adrenal atrophy in hypophysectomized rats. These findings strongly suggest that an extrahypothalamic pituitary CRH/ACTH system may be involved in the maintenance of the growth and steroidogenic secretory activity of the rat adrenal cortex.     

Investigations on the turnover of adrenocortical mitochondria

The effects of chronic administration of ACTH and dexamethasone on the morphology of mitochondria in zona glomerulosa cells of the rat adrenal cortex were investigated by stereological techniques. It was found that the volume of the mitochondrial compartment as well as the surface of the outer and inner mitochondrial membranes were significantly increased or decreased in relation to the number of days of ACTH- or dexamethasone-treatment. In ACTH-administered rats, the average volume of individual mitochondria decreased significantly up to the 6th day of treatment and then showed a conspicuous increase from the 6th to the 15th day, whereas in dexamethasone administered animals this parameter, after a small increase during the first 6 days of treatment, displayed a significant decrease. The number of mitochondria per cell showed a dramatic increase during the first 6 days of treatment with ACTH and continued to increase, but only slightly, with the subsequent treatment. In contrast, this parameter showed a parabolic decrease as a function of the duration of treatment in animals receiving dexamethasone. In the light of evidence showing that dexamethasone blocks ACTH-release, these findings are discussed and interpreted to indicate that ACTH is involved in the maintenance and stimulation of the growth and proliferative activity of mitochondria in rat adrenal zona glomerulosa.     

Morphometrisch-ultrastrukturelle Untersuchungen am Hypophysenhinterlappen der Ratte nach Dehydratation

Zusammenfassung Der Hypophysenhinterlappen von Ratten, die einer Dehydratation unterworfen waren, wurde ultrastrukturell-morphometrisch untersucht. Als wichtigster Befund wurde bereits nach 36stündiger Dehydratation eine massive Abnahme der Neurosekretgranula festgestellt. Gleichzeitig ist ein signifikanter Anstieg der Fettkörper in den Pituicyten zu verzeichnen. Die Fettkörper können nach Ansicht der Autoren als Endprodukt der Membranreste oder der Trägersubstanz des Neurohormons interpretiert werden. Eine Mitbeteiligung der Lysosomen bei ihrer Verarbeitung wird diskutiert.

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Morphometric-ultrastructural investigations on the neural lobe of dehydrated rats

Summary The neurohypophysis of the rat after dehydration has been studied by electron microscopic and morphometric methods. As the main result we found a massive decrease of the neurosecretory granules already at a dehydration of 36 hours. At the same time one can note a significant increase of fat vacuoles in the pituicytes. These fat vacuoles could be the final product of residual membranes or of the carrier substance of the neurohormones. The possibility of a functional role of lysosomes in the catabolism is discussed.

     

Fine structure of trypsin-dissociated rat adrenal cells

Summary Electron micrographs of trypsin-dissociated rat adrenal showed predominantly intact rounded cells without internal damage. The population contained cells from the glomerular, intermediary and fascicular zones with cells from the zona fasciculata predominant. The presence or absence of cells from the reticular zone could not be determined. Cells from the medullary zone were absent. The addition of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) to the cellular suspension for 2 hours produced corticosterone. However, these stimulated cells did not display any significant ultrastructural change.Supported by research grants from the U.S.P.H.S. (No. GM15872), and the Research Council of Rutgers University, and the National Science Foundation (No. GB7427 to Dr. George Sayers). We are indebted to Mrs. Jean A. Gibney, Miss Rose-Marie Ma, and Mrs. Mary Vegh for their excellent technical assistance.Postdoctoral Trainee, U.S.P.H.S. Training Grant No. 5T01-GM00899-11.     

The effects of ageing on the morphology and function of the zonae fasciculata and reticularis of the rat adrenal cortex

Summary The morphological counterpart of the well-known age-dependent marked impairment of glucocorticoid secretion of rat adrenals was investigated by use of morphometric techniques. For this purpose 4-, 8-, 16- and 24-month-old rats were studied. Despite the notable lowering of both basal and ACTH-stimulated production of corticosterone by collagenase-dispersed inner adrenocortical cells, ACTH and corticosterone plasma concentrations displayed significant increases with ageing. Zona fasciculata (ZF) and zona reticularis (ZR) showed a notable hypertrophy in aged rats, which was due to rises in both the average volume and number of their parenchymal cells. The hypertrophy of ZF and ZR cells was in turn associated with increase in the volume of the mitochondrial compartment and proliferation of smooth endoplasmic reticulum, i.e., the two organelles involved in steroid-hormone synthesis. All these morphologic changes, conceivably due to the chronic exposure to high levels of circulating ACTH, are interpreted as a response enabling ZF and ZR to compensate for their age-dependent lowering in glucocorticoid secretion. Stereology also demonstrated that ZF and ZR cells underwent a striking age-related lipid-droplet repletion. Lipid droplets are the intracellular stores of cholesterol esters, the obligate precursors of steroid hormones in rats. This finding is in keeping with the contention that the mechanism underlying the age-dependent decline in rat-adrenal glucocorticoid secretion mainly involves impairments of the utilization of intracellular cholesterol previous to its intramitochondrial transformation to pregnenolone.     

Sex differences in adrenocortical structure and function

Summary Adrenal glands of adult female rats are heavier than the glands of corresponding male rats. Postpubertal orchiectomy increases the adrenal weight, an effect restored by testosterone replacement. Under the same conditions ovariectomy of 8 weeks duration does not change the adrenal weight while estradiol replacement enhances the relative adrenal weight.Karyometric studies have shown that nuclei in the female zona fasciculata cells are larger (app. 18%) than those of the male. Similar but only slight differences (2%) were observed in the zona reticularis. Orchiectomy results in enlargement of cell nuclei within all zones of the adrenal cortex; testosterone replacement has the opposite effect. Ovariectomy of 8 weeks duration slightly enhances the volume of nuclei of the zona glomerulosa cells, has no effect on the nuclei of the zona fasciculata and reduces the volume of nuclei in the zona reticularis. Estradiol replacement reduces the volume of nuclei of the zona glomerulosa cells but increases nuclear volume in the zona fasciculata and in the zona reticularis.Thus testosterone has an inhibitory effect on the adrenal cortex of the rat while the physiologic effect of estradiol on the morphology of this gland, particularly on the zona fasciculata cells is rather dubious.The author wishes to thank Mrs. B. Westerska and Miss K. Siejak for excellent technical assistance.This research was supported in part by a grant from the Zoological Committee, 2nd Department, Polish Academy of Sciences.This paper is dedicated to the memory of late Kazimierz Mietkiewski, M.D., Ph.D. whose encouragements and suggestions were most stimulating for my work.     

The fine structure of the newborn rat adrenal cortex

Summary The structural changes of the zona juxtamedullaris of the rat adrenal cortex at birth, have been examined by the light and the electron microscope. In this zone clusters of medullary cells lying among the strands of cortical tissue were observed. In the inner portion of the zona juxtamedullaris two types of adrenocortical cells were found: light and very-dark cells. The latter are smaller than the light cells and are always in close connection with the medullary tissue. The ultrastructural features of the very-dark cells suggest that these elements are in degeneration. This finding supports the hypothesis that at birth there is a partial degeneration of the rat zona juxtamedullaris, i.e. the zone corresponding to the fetal zone of some mammalian species.It is proposed that in all mammalian species at birth there is a partial regression of the zona juxtamedullaris and that the regression of the fetal zone is only the quantitative increase of this phenomenon. This hypothesis is discussed in relation to numerous data demonstrating that there are enzymatic conditions in the rat during fetal life, which permit a discrete hypertrophy of the adrenal cortex.The author wishes to express his appreciation to Dr. A. Gambino and to Mr. G. Gottardo for technical assistance.     

Intramitochondrial bodies in bovine adrenocortical cells

Summary Electron dense, homogeneous, mostly round intramitochondrial bodies were found in bovine adrenal glands, predominantly in the zona glomerulosa. The histochemical results obtained suggest that these bodies might contain a considerable amount of protein, although the possibility that substances other than proteins are contained in these bodies cannot be completely ruled out. The physiological significance of the intramitochondrial bodies remains unclear.This work was supported by a Scientific Research Grant, No. 144017, from the Ministry of Education of Japan to Prof. M. YasudaThe authors are deeply indebted to Dr. Kazuyori Yamada, Department of Anatomy, Nagoya University for his generosity in allowing us to perform a part of the histochemical tests in his laboratory and for the use of the facilities     

Gestational changes in hamster adrenal cortex: Morphometric and ultrastructural stereologic studies

Summary In the hamster, the weight of the adrenal glands increases during the course of gestation, with the highest value at day 5. In comparison to non-pregnant control animals, there were no changes in the volume of the zona glomerulosa (ZG) and zona fasciculata (ZF), while the volume of the zona reticularis (ZR) increased notably. The average volume of ZG-cells rose at day 5 of pregnancy and thereafter gradually decreased to that of control hamsters. A marked drop in the volume of ZF-cells was seen at days 5 and 10 of pregnancy, whereas at day 15 the cells were larger than in controls. At day 5 of pregnancy, a conspicuous increase in the cell volume was found in ZR, followed by lower values at day 10 and again higher than in control hamsters at day 15. The total number of parenchymal cells in hamster adrenal cortex increased at day 10 of gestation, then underwent a marked decrease, reaching the control value at the final day of pregnancy; this drop was mainly due to a reduction in the number of ZF-cells. The changes in the cell volume were paralleled by rather proportional changes in the volume of the mitochondrial compartment and in the quantity of smooth endoplasmic reticulum. The volume of the lipid-droplet compartment significantly rose in the course of gestation in both ZF- and ZR-cells. The cortisol output by adrenal homogenates gradually decreased during pregnancy.Study performed in partial fulfillment of the Ph.D. Thesis of Magdalena Nowak     

Short- and long-term effects of ACTH on the adrenal zona glomerulosa of the rat

Summary Short-term ACTH treatment provoked a decrease in volume of the lipid-droplet compartment in rat zona glomerulosa cells, and a rise in plasma and intracellular concentrations of corticosterone and aldosterone. It enhanced activities of 3-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3HSD), 11-hydroxylase (11OH) and 18-hydroxylase (18OH). Long-term ACTH administration produced a hypertrophy of the zona glomerulosa and its parenchymal cells, a result of the increase in volume of the smooth endoplasmic reticulum and the mitochondrial compartment. The surface area per cell of mitochondrial inner membranes increased; the tubular cristae were transformed into a homogeneous population of vesicles. The plasma and intracellular concentrations of corticosterone further increased, whereas those of aldosterone fell below basal levels (the aldosterone-escape phenomenon). The activities of 3HSD and 11OH were enhanced, that of 180H decreased. Therefore, ACTH stimulates zona glomerulosa growth and transforms parenchymal elements into zona fasciculata celltypes. Cyanoketone nullified acute ACTH effects on plasma and intracellular concentrations of corticosterone and aldosterone, but did not affect the activities of 11OH and 18OH. Chronic ACTH treatment produced similar results, although 18OH activity was not suppressed. The mechanism underlying the aldosterone-escape phenomenon may thus involve a rise in the intracellular concentration of corticosterone, caused by the enhanced synthesis and activation of 3HSD and 11OH.     

Form und Verteilung subependymaler Basalmembranlabyrinthe am Ventrikelsystem der Ratte

Zusammenfassung Mit der Perjodsäure-Bisulfit-Aldehydthionin-Färbung (Specht) lassen sich am ganzen Ventrikelsystem des Rattengehirns sub- und interependymale Strukturen lichtmikroskopisch nachweisen, die elektronenmikroskopisch als Basalmembranlabyrinthe (BML) identifiziert werden können. Verschiedene Formen dieser BML lassen sich unterscheiden. Sie stehen in Verbindung mit subependymalen Kapillaren. Die Verteilung der BML wird in Ventrikelkarten dokumentiert.

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The shape and distribution of subependymal basement membrane labyrinths of the ventricular system of brain in rat

Summary Sub- und interependymal structures, being demonstrable by a period-acid-bisulfit-aldehydthionine-method (Specht), occur in the whole ventricular system by light microscopy. They can be identified electron microscopically as basement membrane labyrinths (BML). Different shapes of these BML can be distinguished. They are in communication with the basement membrane of subependymal capillaries. The distribution of BML is documented in ventricular maps.

Die Untersuchungen wurden mit dankenswerter Unterstützung durch die Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (Le 69/7) durchgeführt.     

Fine structure of the rabbit adrenal cortex and the effects of short-term ACTH administration

Summary The fine structure of the rabbit adrenal cortex was investigated. The parenchymal cells display the ultrastructural features of steroid-producing cells, and also contain numerous electron-dense bodies frequently located near intercellular canaliculi, which open into the subendothelial space. Short-term ACTH-administration induced a noticeable decrease in the volume of the lipid compartment in the cells of all three cortical zones and a significant increase in the volume of dense bodies in the cells of zona fasciculata and zona reticularis. The hypothesis that these dense bodies are secretory granules is discussed in the light of biochemical evidence showing that ACTH increases the concentration of both corticosterone and cortisol in the decapsulated-enucleated adrenal homogenate and does not affect the activity of two lysosome-marker enzymes (i.e., acid phosphatase and -glucuronidase).     

Sex differences in adrenocortical structure and function

Summary The zonation and cellular composition of the adrenal cortex of intact mature male and female rats of different strains (Chbb Thomm, CFY) and three strains of Wistar rats (W1, W2 and W3) at the age of 84–90 days were compared using morphometry.Both absolute and relative adrenal gland weights were higher in female than male rats. Rats of W3 and Chbb Thomm strains had the largest adrenals. These differences depended upon the higher volume of the zona fasciculata (ZF) and zona reticularis (ZR) in the W3 and Chbb Thomm strains than in the remaining animals. Females had larger adrenocortical zones than corresponding males. The average volume of the ZF cell ranged in males from 1589 m³ (W1 strain) to 2111 m³ (Chbb Thomm) and in females from 2249 m³ (W1 strain) to 2894 m³ (W3 strain). The average nuclear volume of the ZF cells was higher in female rats whereas there were no strain-and sex-differences in the size of zona glomerulosa (ZG) and ZR cells.The total number of parenchymal cells per pair of adrenals varied markedly among the studied strains, with the highest number in W3 and Chbb Thomm females. W3, Chbb Thomm and CFY females had larger number of parenchymal cells than males; the reverse was true for W1 strain whereas no differences were found among W2 male and female rats.