Summary
In the zona reticularis of the rat adrenal cortex three types of cells are to be observed: light, dark, and very dark cells. A time study of the incorporation of cholesterol-3H into these elements has been made. The data obtained from autoradiographic study are discussed in relation to the hypothesis that the light cells are elements in active steroido-synthesis, the dark cells are resting elements, and the very dark cells are elements in degeneration.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Armstrong, D. T., O'Brien, J., Greep, R.: Effects of luteinizing hormone on progestin biosyntesis in the luteinized rat ovary. Endocrinology 75, 488–500 (1964).
Bjersing, L.: On the ultrastructure of granulosa lutein cells in porcine corpus luteum. Z. Zellforsch. 82, 187–211 (1967).
Blanchette, E. J.: Ovarian steroid cells. II. The lutein cell. J. Cell Biol. 31, 517–542 (1966).
Boyd, G. S., Simpson, E. R.: Studies on the conversion of cholesterol to pregnenolone in bovine adrenal mitochondria. In: Function of the adrenal cortex (K. W. McKerns, ed.), Ist ed., p. 49–76. Amsterdam: North Holland Publ. Co. 1968.
Caro, L. J.: High resolution autoradiography. II. The problem of the resolution. J. Cell Biol. 15, 189–199 (1962).
Chernick, B., Evans, A.: The frequency distributions of silver grains counts from autoradiographs. Exp. Cell Res. 53, 94–100 (1968).
Cohere, G., Brechenmacher, C., Mayer, G.: Variations des ultrastructures de la cellule lutéale chez la Ratte au cours de la grossesse. J. Microscopie 6, 657–670 (1967).
Dörmer, P.: Auflichtphotometrische Untersuchungen zur Größe der Koinzidenz in der Autoradiographie mit Tritium. Histochemie 8, 1–8 (1967).
Enders, A. C., Lyons, W. R.: Observations on the fine structure of lutein cells. II. The effects of hypophysectomy and mammotrophic hormone in the rat. J. Cell Biol. 22, 127–141 (1964).
Ganote, C. E., Moses, H. L.: Light and dark cells as artifacts of liver fixation. Lab. Invest. 18, 740–745 (1968).
Giacomelli, F., Wiener, J., Spiro, D.: Cytological alteration related to stimulation of the zona glomerulosa of the adrenal gland. J. Cell Biol. 26, 499–516 (1965).
Hay, E. D., Revel, J. P.: The fine structure of the DNP component of the nucleus. An electron microscopic study utilizing autoradiography to localize DNA synthesis. J. Cell Biol. 16, 29–51 (1963).
Hodson, S. A.: Light-microscopic radioautography utilizing araldite sections. J. Microscopy 89, 113–120 (1969).
Ichii, S., Kobayashi, S., Yago, N., Omata, S.: Role of plasma cholesterol in rat adrenal corticosteroidogenesis in vitro. Endocr. jap. 14, 138–142 (1967).
Idelman, S.: Contribution à la cytophysiologie infrastructurale de la corticosurrénale chez le Rat albinos. Ann. Sci. nat. Zool. 8, 205–362 (1966).
Jamieson, J. D., Palade, G. E.: Intracellular transport of secretory proteins in the pancreatic exocrine cell. J. Cell Biol. 34, 597–615 (1967).
Kahri, A.: Histochemical and electron microscopic studies on the cells of the rat adrenal cortex in tissue culture. Acta endocr. (Kbh.), Suppl. 108, 1–96 (1966).
Kamien, M. D.: Isotopic tracers in biology. An introduction to tracer methodology, 3rd ed. New York: Academic Press 1957.
Kjaerheim, Å., Kondics, L.: Ultrastructure of the interrenal cells in the hen. J. Ultrastruct. Res. 14, 419 (1966).
Kondics, L., Kjaerheim, Å.: The zonation of interrenal cells in fowl. (An electron microscopical study). Z. Zellforsch. 70, 81–90 (1966).
Koritz, S. B.: On the regulation of pregnenolone synthesis. In: Function of the adrenal cortex (K. W. McKerns, ed.), 1st ed., p. 27–48. Amsterdam: North Holland Publ. Co. 1968.
Lockwood, W. R.: A reliable and easily sectioned epoxy embedding medium. Anat. Rec. 50, 129–140 (1964).
Luse, S.: Fine structure of adrenal cortex. In: The adrenal cortex (A. B. Eisenstein, ed.), 1st ed., p. 1–59. London: J.&A. Churchill 1967.
Maurer, W., Primbsch, E.: Größe der Selbstabsorption in der 3H-Autoradiographie. Exp. Cell Res. 33, 8–18 (1964).
Millonig, G.: Advantage of a phosphate buffer for OsO4 solutions in fixation. J. appl. Phys. 32, 1637 (1961).
Morris, M. D., Chaikoff, I. L.: The origin of cholesterol in liver, small intestine, adrenal gland, and testes of the rat: dietary versus endogenous contributions. J. biol. Chem. 234, 1095–1097 (1959).
Mugnaini, E.: „Dark cells“ in electron micrographs from the central nervous system of vertebrates. J. Ultrastruct. Res. 12, 235–236 (1965).
Nishikawa, M., Murone, I., Sato, T.: Electron microscopic investigation of the adrenal cortex. Endocrinology 72, 197–209 (1963).
Noorduyn, N. J. A., Man, J. C. H. de: RNA synthesis in rat and mouse hepatic cells as studied with light and electron microscope radioautography. J. Cell Biol. 30, 655–660 (1966).
Nussdorfer, G. G.: L'ultrastructure de la zone réticulaire de la corticosurrénale du rat pendant la grossesse. Pre-Congr. Abstracts of IV European Regional Conference of Electron Microscopy, vol. 2∘, p. 373–374, Rome, 1968.
—: Analisi citometrica della zona reticolare della corticosurrene di ratto normale ed in gravidanza. Arch. ital. Anat. Embriol. 74, 335–350 (1969).
—, Mazzocchi, G.: Interrelazioni trai vari tipi di cellule presenti nelle zone faseicolata e reticolare della corticosurrene di ratto normale ed in gravidanza. Arch. ital. Anat. Embriol. 74, 15–88 (1969).
Perry, R. P.: Quantitative autoradiography. In: Methods in cell physiology (D. M. Prescott, ed.), 1st ed., vol.1∘, p. 305–319. New York: Academic Press 1964.
Rennels, E. G.: Observations on the ultrastructure of luteal cells from PMS and PMS-HCG treated immature rats. Endocrinology 79, 373–386 (1966).
Roberts, S. K.: Significance of endocrines and central nervous system in circadian rhythms. In: Circadian clocks (J. Aschoff, ed.), 1st ed., p. 198–213. Amsterdam: North Holland Publ. Co. 1965.
Sabatini, D. D., Bensch, K., Barnett, R. J.: Cytochemistry and electron microscopy. The preservation of cellular ultrastructure and enzymatic activity by aldehyde fixation. J. Cell Biol. 17, 19–58 (1963).
Samuels, L. T., Uchikawa, T.: Biosynthesis of adrenal steroids. In: The adrenal cortex (A. B. Eisenstein, ed.), 1st ed., p. 61–102. London: J.&A. Churchill, 1967.
Schlegel, D. E., Zoeten, G. A. de: Improved resolution in light microscope radioautography. J. Cell Biol. 33, 728–731 (1967).
Schwarz, W., Merker, H-J.: Die Hodenzwischenzellen der Ratte nach Hypophysektomie und nach Behandlung mit Choriongonadotropin und Amphenon B. Z. Zellforsch. 65, 272–284 (1965).
Siekevitz, P.: Protoplasm: endoplasmic reticulum and microsomes and their properties. Ann. Rev Physiol. 25, 15–40 (1963).
Srere, P. A., Chaikoff, I. J., Douben, W. B.: The in vitro synthesis of cholesterol from acetate by surviving adrenal cortical tissue. J. biol. Chem. 176, 829–833 (1948).
Tchen, T. T.: Conversion of cholesterol to pregnenolone in adrenal cortex: enzymology and regulation. In: Function of the adrenal cortex (K. W. McKerns, ed.), 1st ed., p. 3–26. Amsterdam: North Holland Publ. Co. 1968.
Trump, B. F., Smuckler, A. E., Benditt, E. P.: A method for staining epoxy sections for light microscopy. J. Ultrastruct. Res. 5, 343–348 (1961).
Werbin, H., Chaikoff, I. L.: Utilization of adrenal gland cholesterol for synthesis of cortisol by the intact and ACTH-treated guinea pig. Arch. Biochem. 93, 476–482 (1961).
Zelander, T.: Ultrastructure of the mouse adrenal cortex. An electron microscopical study in intact and hydrocortisone-treated male adults. J. Ultrastruct. Res. Suppl. 2, I-III (1959).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
The authors wish to thank Mr. G. Gottardo for his technical assistance.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Nussdorfer, G.G., Mazzocchi, G. Autoradiographic study of the incorporation of tritiated cholesterol into the zona reticularis of the rat adrenal cortex. Z. Zellforsch. 102, 205–213 (1969). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00335501
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00335501