comparison between the effects of hypophysectomy and cyproterone acetate on the adrenal medulla chromaffin cells of the mouse

ABSTRACT

The effects of reduction in the glucocorticoid secretion on the adrenomedullary chromaffin cells of the mouse were studied through hypophysectomy and cyproterone acetate [CA] administration. The latter drug is reported to have a pronounced ACTH suppressive effect and to interfere with steroid biosynthesis. There was no evidence of a change in the proportion of epinephrine - storing [E] and nonepinephrine storing [NE] cells in the adrenal medulla of hypophysectomized mice or CA-treated animals. In hypophysectomized animals, the norepinephrine [NE] showed a significant Increase in content and proportion. This was attributed - to a significant decrease in the epinephrine [E] content of these animals. The adrenal glands of CA-treated animals did not show any significant change in NE content, although a significant increase in the NE proportion of the total catecholamine was observed. This was again attributed to the significant decrease in the E content of CA animals. The ultrastructural changes showed the presence of both E and NE granules in the same cell. In addition, many cells showed marked reduction in their secretory granules and appear similar to sympathetic neurons. The reversibility of these changes following cessation of CA - treatment suggests that they represented temporary metabolic changes rather than a process of dedifferentiation of these cells