The origin and differentiation of adrenocortical cells in rats with portacaval shunt. A structural and ultrastructural study

Abstract

Tlie foi-mation of adreiiocortical cells in thc rat was st~idicd by light and elcctron inicroscopy in an csperinicntal modcl. namcly portacuval shunt (P.C.S.). in v.liicli .;trong hypcrpl~isia of the cells oí' the c¿ipsulairrgion occurs. The results of this study indicate that in physiological cunditions at the lcvel of thc adrenal glnnd cnpsulc sonic epithclial cells, morphologically distinguisliable as dark and clcnr cells, are found which can he interprctcd as precursors of adrenocortical cells. Fi-orn observations of intermediate forrns betwccn cupsular precursors arid mature adrcnocortical cells. wliich are found in high numbers following P.C.S.. it seellis that tlie dark prccursors give rise to cclls of thc zoiia glonicriilosa and the clcar precursors e\-olve into cclls of tlie zona intermedia, which are to he considercd as thc starting point for the formiition of cells «f thc zona fnsciculata.