Hajime Sugihara

THE EFFECT CAUSED BY THE DOUBLE CONDITION OF POTASSIUM LOADING AND SIMULTANEOUS SODIUM RESTRICTION ON THE GLOMERULAR ZONE OF RATS

The effect caused by the double condition of potassium loading (K loading) and simultaneous sodium restriction (Na restriction) on the glomerular zone of rats is reported. After 2‐week‐diet of K loading and simultaneous Na restriction an increase of width of glomerular zone and decreases and micronization of fat granules were seen. Enzymic activity (glucose‐6‐phosphate dehydrogenase, steroid 3ß‐ol‐dehydrogenase) was increased. After 3‐week‐diet of the same condition the width of glomerular zone became 1/4 to 1/5 of the whole cortex. The cells in the glomerular zone demonstrated a trabecular arrangement. Ultrastructurally, hypertrophy of cells became marked and the size of cell was about 1.5 times that of normal cells. Dense body increased in number and became irregular in shape. In the widened cytoplasm, smooth endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi apparatus were well developed with numerous coated vesicles. Changes of mitochondria such as increase in number, transformation into round shape and vesicular cristae were characteristic. The severity of these changes was proportional to the duration of K loading and simultaneous Na restriction. After 8‐week‐diet the increase of large‐sized lipid vacuole and dense body, and intramitochondrial deposition were observed in parallel with the above‐mentioned changes. The changes observed in this study appeared earlier and stronger than those in the single‐conditioned group of only K loading or Na restriction. The cause of these changes were considered to be a result of accelerated function of the glomerular cells.

DIFFERENTIATION OF THE FETAL ADRENAL CORTEX OF RATS - ITS EXPERIMENTAL OBSERVATION In Vivo

The development and tissue differentiation of the adrenal cortex of rats were studied by giving experimental treatments to the fetus in vivo. A low‐AGTH‐condition was given to the fetus by administrating Dexamethasone through its mother, or directly into the subcutaneous tissue of the fetus, or by decapitation, brain aspiration or hypophysectomy. When the fetus was given the low‐ACTH‐condition for the last 5 days or more, the hypoplastic adrenal cortex developed specifically. It had nearly normal zona glomerulosa (ZG), and poorly differentiated zona fasciculo‐reticularis (ZF‐R) without differentiated ZF‐R. The observing day was settled at 21 1/2 days old. The shorter the period of low‐ACTH‐condition was, the more thickened the differentiated zone (ZF‐R) grew. On the contrary, the poorly differentiated layer became thinner in proportion to the period of low‐ACTH‐condition. The poorly differentiated cortical cell had ACTH‐reactivity. It seems that the development and tissue differentiation of the ZF‐R depend on fetal own ACTH, and poorly differentiated cortical cells appear below the ZG, and differentiate by ACTH and were gradually pushed inside. The zona glomerulosa develops and differentiates without dependence of ACTH. ACTA PATH. JAP. 27: 759‐773, 1977.

Effects of exogenous ACTH on the rat fetal adrenal cortex: a histochemical and electron-microscopical observation.

ACTH was administered subcutaneously to rat fetus directly at the late stage of fetal development and acute reaction on the fetal adrenal cortex was observed histochemically and electron microscopically. By administration of ACTH the adrenal cortex became remarkably hyperemic and there were swollen cells in all layers, particularly in the middle and inner layers (corresponding to the zona fasciculata and reticularis in adult rat). Marked reduction of lipid, enlarged mitochondria with increased vesicular cristae and increased smooth‐surfaced endoplasmic reticulum (SER) were characteristic. The alterations of mitochondria preceded the change of SER, and thereafter mitochondria showed rapid degeneration. The outer layer (corresponding to the zona glomerulosa in adult rat) also showed similar changes by ACTH to those of the other two layers. These results indicated that the fetal adrenal cortex of rats was exogenous ACTH‐reactive and its reaction which was different from that of adult cortical cells, seemed to be speciflcally related to the development and differentiation of the cells. ACTA PATH. JAP. 27: 477–484, 1977.

Pathology of intracortical nodules in rat adrenal glands,especially on their fine-structure

Intracortical nodules in the zona fasciculata of rat adrenal glands were studied electron microscopically and histochemically. The nodules were classified into the following three types. A) Hyperplastic small cell type having numerous elongated mitochondria with vesicular cristae. Alkaline phosphatase activity was increased in this type of nodule. B) Hypertrophic large cell type having well developed smooth‐surfaced endoplasmic reticulum, and occasionally forming a characteristic feature of fenestrated cisterna. Histochemical activity of steroid 3/3‐ol dehydrogenase was increased. These morphological appearances suggest that this type of nodule has a greater capacity for steroid synthesis. C) Lipid droplet type having many mitochondria containing lamellar cristae and intramltochondrial deposits often found near large lipid vacuoles. The activity of secondary alcohol dehydrogenase was generally increased.

THE EFFECT OF A LOW POTASSIUM DIET ON THE GLOMERULAR ZONE OF THE ADRENAL CORTEX OF RATS

Rats were fed on low potassium diets in order to observe the effect of dietary low potassium on the adrenal cortex. The authors clarified morphological changes of the hypofunctional glomerular zone and compared these changes with those of the hyperfunctional glomerular zone.