EFFECT OF ACUPUNCTURE ANALGESIA ON ULTRASTRACTURE OF ZONA FASCICULATA OF ADRENAL CORTEX / 解剖学报

ABSTRACT

Ten adult male rats of 250～300 g were used. These animals were divided into the control and experimental groups of 6 and 4 rats respectively. The changes of the ultrastructure of adrenocortical cells under acupuncture analgesia were observed with electron microscopy.1. The volumes of cells, nuclei and nucleoli in zona fasciculata were increased. The mitochondria was hypertrophic; its cristae transformed from the tubules into the vesicles in the external zone fasciculate. The giant mitochondria which contained paracrystallin and lipid osmiophilic substance was observed.2. The surface volume of SER membrane was increased. The smooth membrane vesicles and tubules with filaments and granules were dilated. The SER membrane vesicles were arranged around the mitochondria or lipid droplets.3. The lipid droplets with low density were dilated and accumulated in the middle part of cytoplasm. These findings might be correlated with enhancement of synthesis and utilization of cholesterol ester.4. The free ribosomes and polysomes which scattered in cytoplasm were increased. The Golgi apparatus were well developed. The lysosomes of variable sizes and densities (primary or secondary lysosomes) were abundent.5. The number and diameter of the microvilli were increased. The spaces between the adjacent cells of zona fasciculata were dilated and the intermedian junctions and gap junctions had disappeared. The subsinus space was dilated and contained numerous longer microvilli. The changes discribed above suggested that the acupuncture analgesia may enhance activity of the adrenocortical cells, both synthesis and discharge of corticoid hormone.