The anatomy, chemistry, and physiology of adrenocortical tissue

Adrenocorticotropin (ACTH)- and Non-ACTH-Mediated Regulation of the Adrenal Cortex: Neural and Immune Inputs

“…After central activation of the HPA axis, ACTH triggers a physiologic, molecular, and morphological response of the adrenal cortex. This leads not only to glucocorticoid release, but also to up-regulation of steroidogenic cytochrome P 450 messenger ribonucleic acids (9, 10) and to conspicuous structural changes in the adrenal gland characterized by both hypervascularization and cellular hypertrophy and hyperplasia (11,12). These morphological changes are mirrored on the ultrastructural level; adrenocortical cells increase the number of their mitochondria, whereas their inner membranes form a dense vesicular pattern (13,14).…”

Morphological and functional studies of the paracrine interaction between cortex and medulla in the adrenal gland

“…This forms the basis for possible interaction of the two endocrine systems. The intermingling of cortical and chromaffin cells has already been established in lower vertebrates, such as birds and amphibians (Deane, 1962). That both cell systems are interwoven to various degrees in mammals, and in particular also in humans, has however hitherto never been reported.…”

100th anniversary of the discovery of the human adrenal fetal zone by Stella Starkel and Lesław Węgrzynowski: how far have we come?

“…From weeks 8-10 up to midterm their weight doubles weekly. Subsequently, from week 20 to the term, adrenals weight increases from ca 0.5 g to 8-10 g. Thus, this phase of adrenal growth is also prominent, however its dynamics is lower than in the first half of intrauterine development [7,11,13,[17][18][19][20][21][22]). At midgestation the size of adrenals is almost equal to that of fetal kidneys and at term they are similar in weight to adult adrenals (weight of both glands averages at 8-10 g).…”