Summary
Several different fixatives were used in order to obtain the best preservation of fine structure in the chromaffin cells of hamster adrenal medulla. The best fixative for both immersion-fixation and perfusion-fixation contained glutaraldehyde (2.5%) and formaldehyde (4%). After fixation by immersion of the gland, both “dark” and “light” cells are found, but glands fixed by perfusion contain a homogeneous population of “light” cells, which were very well preserved.
The plasma membrane along the “free” surface of chromaffin cells showed a large number of omega-shaped invaginations that usually contained a dense core or fibre-like material; the extracellular dense cores were very similar to those of intact secretory granules. Rarely, the extracellular dense cores were very large and resembled the contents of a secondary lysosome. Several coated pits were found on the inner surface of each omega-shaped invagination.
A prominent Golgi zone, containing many coated vesicles, is typical of these chromaffin cells. The coated vesicles are of two kinds, one with and one without electron-dense contents. Coated vesicles were frequently found in close contact with, or fused with, pro-secretory granules.
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Both authors are Wellcome Research Fellows. This work is supported by a grant from the Medical Research Council. We appreciate the technical assistance of Mr. P. T. Edwards.
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Benedeczky, I., Smith, A.D. Ultrastructural studies on the adrenal medulla of golden hamster: Origin and fate of secretory granules. Z. Zellforsch. 124, 367–386 (1972). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00355037
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00355037