The ultrastructure of the adrenal cortex of the Mongolian gerbil (M. unguiculatus)

Abstract

Ultrastructurally, the adrenal cortex of the Mongolian gerbil can be divided into two main regions and one narrow interposed border zone. The outer region corresponds to the zona glomerulosa and zona fasciculata of the rat adrenal cortex, whereas the inner region corresponds to the rat zona reticularis. The mitochondria are variable in shape, size and internal structure but generally lamelliform or tubulo-vesicular with a dense matrix in the outer region and plate-like and tubular in the inner region. Some of the mitochondria in the border region are of the polylaminar membranous type. The endoplasmic reticulum is abundant and smooth in the outer region but less prominent in the inner regions, where it is both smooth and rough. The concentric whorled membranes of rough endoplasmic reticulum are a characteristic feature of the border zone. Lipid vacuoles are abundant in the outer region. Lysosomes are numerous in the inner region and tend to form groups of 4 or 5. Aminoglutethimide causes a less conspicuous alteration in the adrenal cortex of the Mongolian gerbil than in the rat. The main alterations consist of a profound increase of lipid and lysosomes, a decrease in the number of SER profiles, and complete disappearance of the whorled membranes of RER.