Summary
The proliferative activity of newborn and adult mouse adrenal medullary cells was determined with light and electron microscopic autoradiography. The H3 thymidine labelling index of 2 weeks old mice adrenal medullary cells was about 9.4 % and declined to less than 1 % in adult mice. In electron microscopic autoradiography labelled norepinephrine as well as epinephrine cells could be seen. Only in 1 and 2 weeks old mice some morphologically undifferentiated cells were visible. In formaldehyde induced fluorescence combined with light microscopic autoradiography the fluorescence intensities of labelled and unlabelled medullary cells were measured. On average the fluorescence intensity of labelled cells was lower than that of unlabelled cells. The differences could be explained by a higher number of autoradiographic silver grains laying on the cytoplasm of labelled cells. These results give evidence that fully differentiated adrenal medullary cells are capable of division.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bachmann, R.: Die Nebenniere. In: Handbuch der mikroskopischen Anatomie (W. Bargmann, ed.), Bd. VI/5. Berlin-Göttingen-Heidelberg: Springer 1954
Balfour, F.M.: The development of elasmobranch fishes. Development of the spinal nerves and the sympathetic nervous system. J. Anat. (Lond.) 11, 406–490 (1877)
Benedeczky, I., Somogyi, P.: Ultrastructure of the adrenal medulla of normal and insulin treated hamsters. Cell Tiss. Res. 162, 541–550 (1975)
Coupland, R.E.: Electron microscopic observations on the structure of the rat adrenal medulla. J. Anat. (Lond.) 99, 231–254 (1965)
Coupland, R.E.: The chromaffin system. In: Handbook of experimental pharmacology. Vol. XXXIII, Catecholamines (H. Blaschko and E. Muscholl, eds.), pp 16–45. Berlin-Heidelberg-New York: Springer 1972
Coupland, R.E., Weakley, B.S.: Developing chromaffine tissue in the rabbit: an electron microscopic study. J. Anat. (Lond.) 102, 425–455 (1968)
Coupland, R.E., Weakley, B.S.: Electron microscopic observation on the adrenal medulla and extra adrenal chromaffin tissue of the postnatal rabbit. J. Anat. (Lond.) 106, 213–231 (1970)
Elfvin, L.G.: The development of the secretory granules in the rat adrenal medulla. J. Ultrastruct. Res. 17, 45–62 (1967)
Falck, B., Hillarp, N.A., Thieme, G., Torp, A.: Fluorescence of catecholamines and related compounds condensed with formaldehyde. J. Histochem. Cytochem. 10, 348–354 (1962)
Fernholm, H.: On the development of the sympathetic chain and the adrenal medulla in the mouse. Z. Anat. Entwickl.-Gesch. 133, 305–317 (1971)
Gorgas, K., Böck, P.: Morphology and histochemistry of the adrenal medulla. I. Various types of primary catecholamine-storing cells in the mouse adrenal medulla. Histochemistry 50, 17–31 (1976)
Hörandner, H., Klaushofer, K.: Freeze-drying for semithin section. Histochemistry (in preparation)
Kopriva, B.M.: A reliable, standardized method for ultrastructural electron microscopic radioautography. Histochem. 37, 1–17 (1973)
Lassmann, H.: Ein dritter Zelltyp im Nebennierenmark der Maus? Verh. anat. Ges. 68, 641–644 (1974)
Malvaldi, G., Viola-Magni, M.P.: DNA turnover in adrenal medullary cells of different strains of rats and its enhancement after intermittent exposure to cold. Cell. Tiss. Kinet. 5, 103–113 (1972)
McPhail, M.K., Read, H.C.: The mouse adrenal. I. Development, degeneration and regeneration of the x-zone. Anat. Rec. 84, 51–73 (1942)
Spurr, A.R.: A low viscosity epoxy-resin embedding medium for electron microscopy. J. Ultrastruct. Res. 26, 31–43 (1969)
Theiler, K., Müntener, M.: Die Entwicklung der Nebenniere der Maus. I. Pränatale Entwicklung. Z. Anat. Entwickl.-Gesch. 144, 195–203 (1974)
Wetzstein, R.: Elektronenmikroskopische Untersuchung am Nebennierenmark der Maus. Z. Zellforsch. 46, 517–576 (1957)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
This study was supported by “Jubiläumsfonds der Österreichischen Nationalbank” grant No. 818
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Jurecka, W., Lassmann, H. & Hörandner, H. The proliferation of adrenal medullary cells in newborn and adult mice. Cell Tissue Res. 189, 305–312 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00209279
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00209279