Differences between adrenaline and noradrenaline cells in cellular association with supporting cells in the adrenal medulla of the pig: an immunohistochemical study.

Location and morphology of glial supporting cells in the pig adrenal medulla were examined immunohistochemically by the ABC method using antibody to S-100 protein. In noradrenaline (NA)-cell regions, S-100-positive cells were located in both marginal and internal portions of the parenchyma, extending fine cytoplasmic processes between NA cells and/or enveloping large surface areas of NA cells. In adrenaline (A)-cell regions, S-100-positive cells were present less frequently than in NA-cell regions, mostly in the marginal portion of the parenchyma. It is surmised that differences between A cells and NA cells in cellular association with supporting cells reflect those in biological characteristics.