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The innervation of the adrenal gland. IV. Innervation of the rat adrenal medulla from birth to old age. A descriptive and quantitative morphometric and biochemical study of the innervation of chromaffin cells and adrenal medullary neurons in Wistar rats.
- Source :
-
Journal of anatomy [J Anat] 1990 Apr; Vol. 169, pp. 209-36. - Publication Year :
- 1990
-
Abstract
- The innervation of the adrenal medulla has been investigated in normal Wistar rats from birth to old age and ultrastructural findings compared with biochemical markers of the cholinergic innervation of the adrenal gland and catecholamine storage. Morphological evidence of the immaturity of the innervation during the first postnatal week is provided and using quantitative morphometry the innervation of chromaffin cells is shown to reach a mean total of 5.4 synapses per chromaffin cell during the period 26 days to 12 weeks of age. The variation in contents of synaptic profiles is discussed in the light of recent work that demonstrates a major sensory as well as visceral efferent innervation of the gland. Adrenal medullary neurons usually occur in closely packed groups, intimately associated with Schwann cells. Axodendritic and axosomatic synapses on these neurons are described and the likely origin of axonal processes innervating the neurons discussed. In old age the density of innervation remains the same as in young adult animals even though the medulla shows evidence of hyperplasia and hypertrophy of individual chromaffin cells.
- Subjects :
- Adrenal Glands analysis
Adrenal Glands cytology
Adrenal Glands growth & development
Adrenal Medulla cytology
Adrenal Medulla enzymology
Adrenal Medulla growth & development
Adrenal Medulla innervation
Aging physiology
Animals
Catecholamines analysis
Choline O-Acetyltransferase metabolism
Cholinergic Fibers ultrastructure
Chromaffin System cytology
Chromaffin System innervation
Chromaffin System ultrastructure
Neurons cytology
Neurons enzymology
Neurons ultrastructure
Rats
Rats, Inbred Strains
Synapses enzymology
Synapses ultrastructure
Adrenal Glands innervation
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 0021-8782
- Volume :
- 169
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Journal of anatomy
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 2384334