An Ultrastructural Stereologic Study of the Effects of ACTH and Adenosine 3',5'-Cyclic Monophosphate on the Zona Glomerulosa of Rat Adrenal Cortex
- 1 January 1973
- journal article
- other
- Published by The Endocrine Society in Endocrinology
- Vol. 92 (1) , 141-151
- https://doi.org/10.1210/endo-92-1-141
Abstract
The effects of a chronic treatment with ACTH, adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cyclic AMP), and N6,2'–O–dibutyryl adenosine 3',5'–cyclic monophosphate (dibutyryl cyclic AMP) on the zona glomerulosa of hypophysectomized rats have been investigated by morphometric methods and electron microscopy. It was found that ACTH completely reverses the effects of hypophysectomy on the glomerulosa cells. The structural changes involve a significant increase in the volume of the zona glomerulosa, as well as of the cells, nuclei, mitochondrial fraction and membrane space, and in the surface of smooth endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondrial cristae. Also noticeable is the hypertrophy of the Golgi apparatus and of microvilli. The lipid droplets are found to have significantly decreased. These findings are interpreted as indicating that ACTH enhances the growth and the steroidogenic capacity of the adrenal zona glomerulosa. Cyclic AMP and dibutyryl cyclic AMP are found to induce in the glomerulosal cells morphologic changes which are largely analogous to those found after ACTH administration. The hypothesis that cyclic AMP may act as an intracellular mediator of the trophic action of ACTH on the rat zona glomerulosa is discussed.(Endocrinology92: 160, 1973)Keywords
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