SUMMARY Cells set about the renal tributaries of the post-cardinal veins of lungfish displayed staining properties similar to those generally characteristic of adrenocortical tissue in tetrapod vertebrates. Furthermore, the reactions of these cells in the lungfish, during aestivation and in the free-living forms, after injections of adrenocorticotrophic hormone, cortisol or hydroxylase inhibitor, metyrapone (Metopirone, Ciba), paralleled those occurring in the adrenal cortex of a variety of animals after equivalent treatment. Tissue, separated from the kidney so as to contain these cells, was capable of converting, in vitro, progesterone to corticosterone whilst control renal tissue had this capacity to only a negligible degree. On these grounds, it is suggested that these cells, in cord-like groups of three to ten, situated by the post-cardinal veins between renal and peri-renal tissue are true adrenocortical cells. The arrangement and nature of these cells are very similar to the adrenocortical tissue of amphibians, particularly adult urodeles and developmental stages of anurans. These findings are discussed in relation to the possible pattern of the evolution of the adrenal gland.
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