Summary
Adrenal glands from ACTH-treated intact ducks and chronically adenohypophysectomized ducks showed clear zonation into a subcapsular zone (SCZ) and an inner zone (IZ). Adenohypophysectomy caused ultrastructural changes in the IZ but not in the SCZ cells. These included increases in lipid droplets, changes in mitochondrial cristae from tubular to shelf-like, and changes in the shape of the nuclei from spherical to crenated. These changes were reversed by treatment with ACTH. Also, cells of the IZ, but not the SCZ, of adrenals from intact birds given ACTH showed more SER, more dense bodies, fewer lipid droplets and more prominent Golgi complexes.
IZ cells incubated in buffer containing no ACTH developed mitochondria with shelf-like cristae and numerous opaque granules in the matrix. Exposure to buffer containing ACTH caused the mitochondrial cristae to become tubular and the matrix granules either decreased in number or disappeared. The granules could be extracted by incubating sections with chelating agents. The mitochondria in SCZ cells did not respond structurally to the presence of ACTH in the incubation medium but the matrix granules, like those in IZ cells, responded to the presence of chelating agents.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Boisson, J.:Le controle hypothalamo-hypophysaire de la fonction corticosurrénale chez le canard. J. Physiol. (Paris) 59, 423–444 (1967)
Bradley, E.L., Holmes, W.N.: The effects of hypophysectomy on adrenocortical function in the duck (Anas platyrhynchos). J. Endocrinol. 49, 437–457 (1971)
Cronshaw, J., Holmes, W.N., Loeb, S.L.: Fine structure of the adrenal gland in the duck (Anas platyrhynchos). Anat. Rec. 180, 385–406 (1974)
Holmes, W.N., Broock, R.L., Devlin, J.: Tritiated corticosteroid metabolism in intact and adenohypophysectomized ducks (Anas platyrhynchos). Gen. Comp. Endocrinol. 22, 417–427 (1974)
Holmes, W.N., Cronshaw, J., Gorsline, J.: Some effects of ingested petroleum on seawater-adapted ducks (Anas platyrhynchos). Environ. Sci. 17, 177–190 (1978)
Kahri, A.: Histochemical and electron microscopic studies on the cells of the rat adrenal cortex in tissue culture. Acta Endocrinol. (Kbh.) 52, 3–96 (1966)
Kahri, A.: Inhibition by cycloheximide of ACTH-induced internal differentiation of mitochondria in cortical cells in tissue cultures of fetal rat adrenals. Anat. Rec. 171, 53–80 (1971)
Karnovsky, M.J.: A formaldehyde-glutaraldehyde fixative of high osmolarity for use in electron microscopy. J. Cell Biol. 27, 137a (1965)
Kjaerheim, Å.: Studies in adrenocortical ultrastructure. 4: Effects of ACTH on interrenal cells of the domestic fowl. J. Microscopie 7, 715–738 (1968)
Kondics, L.: Über die Wirkung der Dehydration auf die funktionelle Zonation der Nebenniere bei Haustauben. Ann. Univ. Sci. Rolando Eötvös nom. Sect. Biol. 7, 115–120 (1964)
Kondics, L., Kjaerheim, Å.: The zonation of interrenal cells of the fowl. Z. Zellforsch. 70, 81–90 (1966)
Maneulidis, L., Mulrow, P.: ACTH effects on aldosterone production and mitochondrial ultrastructure in adrenal gland cultures. Endocrinology 93, 1104–1108 (1973)
Miller, R.A., Riddle, O.: The cytology of the adrenal cortex of normal pigeons and experimentally induced atrophy and hypertrophy. Am. J. Anat. 71, 311–341 (1942)
Pearce, R.B., Cronshaw, J., Holmes, W.N.: The fine structure of the interrenal cells of the duck (Anas platyrhynchos) with evidence for the possible exocytotic release of steroids. Cell Tissue Res. 183, 203–220 (1977)
Pearce, R.B., Cronshaw, J., Holmes, W.N.: Evidence for the zonation of interrenal tissue in the adrenal gland of the duck (Anas platyrhynchos). Cell Tissue Res. 192, 363–379 (1978)
Péczely, P.: The adaptation to salt water conditions of the adrenal structure in various bird species. Acta Biol. Acad. Sci. Hung. 15, 171–180 (1964)
Péczely, P.: Effects of hyper- and hypofunctional states on the zonation of, and in vitro corticosterone production by adrenocortical tissue in the domestic pigeon. Acta Biol. Acad. Sci. Hung. 23, 11–21 (1972)
Péczely, P., Muray, T.: The effect of KCl, NaCl, hydration and dehydration on the subcommissural organ of the domestic pigeon. Acta Biol. Acad. Sci. Hung. 18, 115–128 (1967)
Rubin, R.P.: Calcium and the secretory process. New York: Academic Press 1974
Sabatini, D.D., Roberts, E.D.P. de, Bleichmar, H.B.: Submicroscopic study of the pituitary action on the adrenocortex of the rat. Endocrinology 70, 390–406 (1962)
Sandor, T., Fazekas, A.G., Lehoux, J., Leblanc, H., Lanthier, A.: Studies on biosynthesis of 18-hydroxylated steroids from exogenous corticosterone by domestic duck (Anas platyrhynchos) adrenal gland mitochondria. J. Steroid Biochem. 3, 661 (1972)
Sayers, G., Beall, R.J., Seelig, S.: Isolated adrenal cells: adrenocorticotropic hormone, calcium, steroidogenesis, and cyclic adenosine monophosphate. Science 175, 1131–1133 (1972)
Sommers, S.C., Terzakis, J.A.: Ultrastructural study of aldosterone-secreting cells of the adrenal cortex. Am. J. Clin. Path. 54, 303–310 (1970)
Suyama, A.T., Long, J.A., Ramachandran, J.: Ultrastructural changes induced by ACTH in normal adrenocortical cells in culture. J. Cell Biol. 72, 757–763 (1977)
Taylor, A.A., Davis, J.O., Breitenbach, R.P., Hartroft, P.M.: Adrenal steroid secretion and a renal pressor system in the chicken. Gen. Comp. Endocrinol. 14, 321–333 (1970)
Varma, M.M.: Ultrastructural evidence for aldosterone- and corticosterone-secreting cells in the adrenocortical tissue of the American bullfrog (Rana catesbeiana). Gen. Comp. Endocrinol. 33, 61–75 (1977)
Venable, J.G., Coggeshall, R.: A simplified lead citrate stain for use in electronmicroscopy. J. Cell Biol. 25, 407–408 (1965)
Weibel, E.R.: Stereological principles for morphometry in electron microscopic cytology. Int. Rev. Cytol. 26, 235–302 (1969)
Weibel, E.R., Gonzague, S.K., Scherle, W.F.: Practical Stereological method for morphometric cytology. J. Cell Biol. 30, 23–38 (1966)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
This work was supported by a grant (BMS 74-23174) to J. Cronshaw and W.N. Holmes from the National Science Foundation, Washington, D.C. The authors are grateful to Mrs. Ilene Hames for her assistance in the preparation of this manuscript
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Pearce, R.B., Cronshaw, J. & Holmes, W.N. Structural changes occurring in interrenal tissue of the duck (Anas platyrhynchos) following adenohypophysectomy and treatment in vivo and in vitro with corticotropin. Cell Tissue Res. 196, 429–447 (1979). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00234738
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00234738