EFFECTS OF ANGIOTENSIN-II ON THE ZONA FASCICULATA OF THE RAT ADRENAL-CORTEX - AN ULTRASTRUCTURAL STEREOLOGIC STUDY

  • 1 January 1981
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 132  (MAR) , 235-242
Abstract
The effects of chronic angiotensin II administration on the zona fasciculata of rats treated with dexamethasone and maintenance doses of ACTH were investigated by morphometric methods applied to EM. Angiotensin induced a significant increase in the volume of cells, nuclei, mitochondrial and lipid compartments, and in the surface area of smooth endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondrial cristae. Noticeable also were the hypertrophy of the Golgi apparatus and the increase in the number of acid phosphatase-positive dense bodies. The renin-angiotensin system is evidently involved in the stimulation of the growth and steroidogenic capacity of the rat zona fasciculata.