Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 1977 Jul 15;181(3):287-98.
doi: 10.1007/BF00223104.

Investigations on the turnover of adrenocortical mitochondria. VIII. A stereological study of the effect of chronic treatment with ACTH and dexamethasone on the morphology of mitochondria in zona glomerulosa cells of the rat

G Mazzocchi, C Robba, P Rebuffat, A S Belloni, A M Gambino, G G Nussdorfer

Investigations on the turnover of adrenocortical mitochondria. VIII. A stereological study of the effect of chronic treatment with ACTH and dexamethasone on the morphology of mitochondria in zona glomerulosa cells of the rat

G Mazzocchi et al. Cell Tissue Res. .

Abstract

The effects of chronic administration of ACTH and dexamethasone on the morphology of mitochondria in zona glomerulosa cells of the rat adrenal cortex were investigated by stereological techniques. It was found that the volume of the mitochondrial compartment as well as the surface of the outer and inner mitochondrial membranes were significantly increased or decreased in relation to the number of days of ACTH- or dexamethasone-treatment. In ACTH-administered rats, the average volume of individual mitochondria decreased significantly up to the 6th day of treatment and then showed a conspicuous increase from the 6th to the 15th day, whereas in dexamethasone administered animals this parameter, after a small increase during the first 6 days of treatment, displayed a significant decrease. The number of mitochondria per cell showed a dramatic increase during the first 6 days of treatment with ACTH and continued to increase, but only slightly, with the subsequent treatment. In contrast, this parameter showed a parabolic decrease as a function of the duration of treatment in animals receiving dexamethasone. In the light of evidence showing that dexamethasone blocks ACTH-release, these findings are discussed and interpreted to indicate that ACTH is involved in the maintenance and stimulation of the growth and proliferative activity of mitochondria in rat adrenal zona glomerulosa.

PubMed Disclaimer

References

    1. Annu Rev Biochem. 1970;39:251-90 - PubMed
    1. J Steroid Biochem. 1973 Jan;4(1):89-118 - PubMed
    1. Cell Tissue Res. 1975 Nov 12;163(3):273-90 - PubMed
    1. Lab Invest. 1966 Apr;15(4):731-49 - PubMed
    1. Biochim Biophys Acta. 1967 Jun 20;142(1):181-94 - PubMed