An ultrastructural stereologic study of mitochondria in the neonatal adrenal cortex of the rat.

The ultrastructural changes observed during the neonatal period of the rat adrenal cortex are described. The zona juxta-medullaris cells presented round mitochondria with vesicular cristae and large endoplasmic reticulum. Variations on the surface of the mitochondrial cristae were determined by morphometric methods. The cortical cells of 1 and 10-days-old rats showed a well developed endoplasmic reticulum. Morphological analysis indicate that the number of mitochondrial cristae increase the third day, followed by a decrease. At the tenth day a second increase was observed. Plasma corticosterone was also measured. The highest levels of this hormone were found in the 1, 2 and 10-days-old rats. A decrease was observed in rats of 3 to 8 days of age. This result is coincident with the adrenal changes observed in the developing of mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum in the neonatal period. The increase in the number of mitochondrial cristae in the three-days old rats can be considered a morphological expression of the neonatal gland in the period influenced by maternal dependence. The most important morphological and metabolic changes observed the second week of life are probably due to the maturation of the hypothalamic pituitary axis that stimulates the neonatal adrenal cortex secretion, which is independent of maternal dependence.