Progressive Histochemical and Ultrastructural Changes in the Zona Glomerulosa Induced by Sodium Deficiency during Pregnancy in the Rat

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Abstract
This laboratory has reported that the administration of a sodium load or exogenous aldosterone from days 18 to 22 of pregnancy either prevented or reversed cellular exhaustion in the zona glomerulosa of sodium-restricted rats. The present study was designed to investigate histochemical and ultrastructural status of the zona glomerulosa on day 18 and to follow the progression of change in control and sodium-restricted rats. Hypertrophy, hyperplasia and G6PD activity were significantly greater in sodium-restricted animals by day 18 than in control animals at term but there was little difference in their ultrastructure. Beyond day 18 there was no further hypertrophy or hyperplasia in sodium-restricted animals indicating that the extent of zone expansion had been reached. However, enzyme activity continued to increase until day 22 and was coupled with progressive cellular degradation. These data indicate that the administration of sodium or aldosterone even as late as day 18 could prevent the degradation of the zone but not the extreme hypertrophy and hyperplasia associated with the continuing enzyme activity.

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