Sex differences in adrenocortical structure and function. VIII. Karyometric and stereologic studies on adrenals of intact adult male and female hamsters.

Contrary to the rats, adrenals of the intact adult male hamsters are greater than females' ones. The aim of the study was to elucidate the cytologic aspects of these sex-associated differences in adrenal weight. Despite of equal body weight adrenals of male hamsters are markedly heavier then female glands and the same is true for the volume of the glands. Volume of al adrenocortical zones is larger in males than females animals, on the contrary, volume of medulla is greater in female hamster. The volume of zona glomerulosa cell is equal in both sexes while the cells of fasciculata and reticularis zones are greater in male animals. In the both sexes nuclear volume of glomerulosa and fasciculata cells was similar, on the contrary nuclei of zona reticularis cells are markedly larger in males. Total number of adrenocortical cells is higher in male glands as compared to female and this difference depends on the higher number of parenchymal cells in fasciculata and reticularis zones of the male gland. These data indicate that sex-associated difference in adrenal weight of the hamster depends on the differences in size as well as in quantity of adrenocortical cells in male and female glands.