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Immersion and perfusion fixed rat adrenal medulla: The problem of mixed cells, clear cells, and the mode of secretion

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Summary

The adrenal medulla of the rat was studied utilizing various methods of fixation. In adrenal medulla specimens after immersion fixation either with glutaraldehyde or osmium tetroxide, elements such as mixed, clear, syncytial, or plasmodial cells, believed to be of artifactual origin, are observed in all of this material examined. These elements are absent in the specimens prepared by perfusion fixation. In specimens prepared by immersion fixation, secretory granules are found in close proximity to the plasma membrane; this localization is infrequent after perfusion fixation.

Current theories of the mechanism of secretion of adrenal medullary hormones are discussed on the basis of our results. This investigation demonstrates the advantage and necessity of perfusion fixation in the study of the adrenal medulla.

Zusammenfassung

Das Nebennierenmark der Ratte wurde nach Anwendung verschiedener Fixationsmethoden untersucht. Nach Immersionsfixation mit Glutaraldehyd oder Osmiumtetroxyd finden sich in der Nebenniere sog. Mischzellen, helle Zellen, syncytiale oder plasmodiale Zellen, die von den Untersuchern als Artefaktbildungen angesehen werden. In allen Proben nach Perfusionsfixation wurden solche Artefaktbildungen niemals beobachtet. Bei Immersionsfixation wurde eine enge Beziehung zwischen Sekretgranula und Cytoplasmamembran beobachtet, was bei Perfusionsfixation selten der Fall war.

Die heutigen Theorien über den Sekretionsmechanismus bei Nebennierenmarkzellen werden aufgrund der vorgelegten Ergebnisse diskutiert. Die Arbeit zeigt die wesentlichen Vorteile der Anwendung der Perfusionsfixation für die Untersuchung der Nebenniere.

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  1. Institute of Anatomy, University of Heidelberg, Germany

    Ph. Wacker & W. G. Forssmann

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Supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, grant No. Fo 77/1.

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Wacker, P., Forssmann, W.G. Immersion and perfusion fixed rat adrenal medulla: The problem of mixed cells, clear cells, and the mode of secretion. Z. Zellforsch. 126, 261–277 (1972). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00307220

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