Histogenesis and morphofunctional characteristics of chromaffin cells

Abstract

This article reviews the current status of research about the histogenesis and morphofunctional characteristics of chromaffin cells in the adrenal medulla. First, this study reports the selective migration, transcription and activation factors, and the morphological events of the chromaffin cell precursors during adrenal medulla development. Subsequently, the morphofunctional characteristics of adrenergic and non-adrenergic cells are considered, with particular reference to the characteristics of chromaffin granules and their biological steps, including their formation, traffic (storage, targeting and docking), exocytosis in the strict sense and recapture. Moreover, the relationship of chromaffin cells with other tissue components of the adrenal medulla is also revised, comprising the ganglion cells, sustentacular cells, nerves and connective-vascular tissue.

Effect of acute heat stress on rat adrenal medulla — a morphological and ultrastructural study

“…Also, the profile area of nuclei was significantly decreased (P<0.01). The discharge of whole granules from chromaffin cells into interstitium is well documented as one of ways of granule releasing [1]. It was already mentioned that the adrenaline in the blood circulation is produced from the adrenal A-cells [30,32,39].…”

“…They possess a single round or ellipsoidal nucleus. The cytoplasm contains chromaffin granules [1]. Beside this, different types of cells such as ganglion cells, as well as the other cells are present in the adrenal medulla [2][3][4].…”

Revisiting the Stimulus-Secretion Coupling in the Adrenal Medulla: Role of Gap Junction-Mediated Intercellular Communication

“…Although chromaffin cells are the predominantly expressed cellular constituents of the adrenal medulla, it also contains nonneuroendocrine cells including sustentacular cells, homologous in nature to Schwann cells [58,59]. As extensively documented in other tissues including both neuronal and endocrine tissues, glial cells or glial-like cells are highly coupled by gap junctions [60][61][62].…”

Migration and distribution of neural crest-derived cells in the human adrenal cortex at 9-16 weeks of gestation: an immunohistochemical study

“…The distribution of chromaffin cells should overlap that of TH-positive cells, as seen in the present study, because chromaffin cells express TH 2) . However, in the present study, chromogranin A-positive cells were seen around the aorta as well as in the adrenal.…”

“…The fetal adrenal medulla is composed of glial cells (Schwann-like cells and sustentacular cells), ganglion cells and chromaffin cells, all of which originate from the lumbar neural crest 1,2) . The ganglion cells have been identified immunohistochemically using antibodies against class III beta-tubulin isotype 3) , tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) 4,5) or dopamine-beta-hydroxylase 6) .…”