Formation of concentric whorls of rough endoplasmic reticulum in the adrenal gland of the Mongolian gerbil.

All cortical cells appeared alike in fetal gerbils of both sexes though glomerulosa cells were distinguishable at the time of birth. Fenestrated cisternae of rough endoplasmic reticulum were observed in all cortical cells of fetal gerbils, but smooth endoplasmic reticulum predominated. Concentric whorls of rough endoplasmic reticulum first appeared in adrenocortical cells at 42 days of age. The whorls developed within cells having abundant smooth endoplasmic reticulum and which were located in the region between the zona fasciculata and zona reticularis. Cells with whorls possibly serve as reserve cells which transform into actively secreting steroid cells in times of stress.