Abstract

ULTRASTRUCTURAL CHANGES WITHIN THE ADRENOCORTICAL TISSUE OF VARIOUS POSTNATAL DEVELOPMENTAL STAGES OF A SPECIES OF WILD RAT, RATTUS SIKKIMENSIS

Debiprosad Chattopadhyay and Chanchal Kumar Manna*

ABSTRACT

Ultra structural features within the adrenocortical tissue at various developmental stages (day 1 - 60) of a wild rodent species, Rattus sikkimensis, were studied in this investigation. Gradual changes of various types of organelles were observed. At the initial stage i.e., on day 1, no cellular differentiation was noticed. but after days 7 onwards, gradual changes of different cellular organelles were noticed. 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. Changes in the structures of the mitochondria within different zones of the adrenal cortex were noticed. Various shapes of cristae (vesicular, tubulo - vesicular and tubular type) were observed. In most cases, numerous daughter mitochondria with indistinct boundary walls were present. The endoplasmic reticulum was abundant and smooth in the outer region but less prominent in the inner regions. Lipid droplets were abundant in the outer region. Lysosomes were numerous in the inner region. Cells were with distinct nuclei and prominent double membrane. Due to Zonal demarcation of the various regions changes of various organelles were quite prominent at the age of 60. Due to the ultra structural changes, the physiological significance of various organelles can not be correlated in the present studies.

Keywords: Cristae, Zonal, Organelles, Ultra structural, Adrenocortical.