A CONTRIBUTION TO ULTRASTRUCTURAL STUDY OF INTERRENAL CELLS OF SALAMANDRA-SALAMANDRA L (URODELE AMPHIBIAN) .I. NORMAL CONDITIONS

The interrenal (adrenocortical) cells of the terrestrian spotted Salamander (Salamandra salamandra L.) show the ultrastructural characteristics of steroid producing cells. Their cytoplasm is strikingly rich in mitochondria with mainly tubular cristae, and in liposomes. The endoplasmic reticulum consists essentially of smooth surfaced tubules. The ribosomes are usually free, but can associate themselves with small portions of tubules of the endoplasmic reticulum. Although all the interrenal cells do not show the same aspect, the differences exhibited by their fine structure do not recall the ultrastructural zonation of the mammalian adrenocortex. Some interrenal cells have a highly developed endoplasmic reticulum and are very poor in liposomes, whereas others have their cytoplasm filled with large liposomes, but are poor in mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum tubules. These two aspects reflect respectively a high level of hormonal synthesis and a reduced one. Most of the interrenal cells show an intermediate cytological aspect reflecting a moderate secretory activity. Some rare cells characterized by small mitochondria with lamellar cristae occur in the interrenal tissue; their significance is not yet understood. Many interrenal cells are degenerescent. © 1969 Springer-Verlag.