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.
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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)
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Mazzocchi, G., Robba, C., Belloni, A.S. et al. Investigations on the turnover of adrenocortical mitochondria. Cell Tissue Res. 168, 1–9 (1976). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00219719
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00219719