STUDIES OF ADRENOCORTICAL ULTRASTRUCTURE .3. EFFECTS OF DEXAMETHASONE AND MEDROXYPROGESTERONE ON INTERRENAL CELLS OF DOMESTIC FOWL

The atrophie changes of interrenal cells of the fowl, caused by administration of dexamethasone and medroxyprogesterone were studied. The main cytoplasmic changes were increased amounts of lipid droplets, decrease of the smooth-surfaced endoplasmic reticulum and signs of segregation of lipid droplets within cytoplasmic vacuoles. The nuclear alterations were shrinkage of the nucleus, an irregular course of the nuclear membrane, lipid inclusions, decrease in the number of nuclear bodies and small nucleoli lacking vacuoles as seen after stimulation with ACTH (Kjaerheim, 1968c). The atrophic changes were essentially identical after the two types of steroid treatment, and were equally prominent in both zones of interrenal cells. © 1968 Springer-Verlag.