Tang Li, Peng Ke-mei, Wang Jia-xiang, Luo Hou-qiang, Cheng Jia-yue, Zhang Gao-ying, Sun Yan-fang, Liu Hua-zhen, Song Hui
Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, People's Republic of China.
Tissue Cell. 2009 Aug;41(4):231-8. doi: 10.1016/j.tice.2008.11.003. Epub 2009 Feb 28.
The morphology of the adrenal gland has been studied for a number of animal species all over the world, yet the detailed data about ostrich chick has not been reported. In the present study, the morphological features of the adrenal gland in African ostrich chicks were investigated by means of gross anatomy, light and electron microscope. Differences between the left and right adrenal glands were found in shape, size and location. The interrenal tissue and chromaffin cell interdigitated irregularly. The interrenal tissue was divided into a peripheral zone (PZ) and a central inner zone (CZ), and the PZ was further distinguished into an outer area (subcapsular zone, SCZ) and an inner area (IZ). The cellular arrangement in these zones showed evident zonation that resembled the mammalian. This phenomenon had been previously described only for the pelicanus. The cytoplasm of interrenal cells in SCZ was stained lightly than in IZ and CZ, and contained several vacuoles. Additionally, unlike CZ cells, SCZ cells appeared to contain more mitochondria and less lipid droplets. Two types of chromaffin cells: epinephrine cells and norepinephrine cells could be detected. The type 1 granules possessed a central core and a variable distance between membrane and core; the type 2 granules had an eccentric core, which leant to one side of granule and sticked to the membrane, giving a lager lacouna appearance in another side of the granule.
