322
CHESTER JONES, CHAN, HENDERSON, AND BALL
1. INTRODUCTION
A. The Adrenal Cortex
Cells arising embryologically from the mesonephric blastema, capable
of synthesizing certain steroid hormones, have been found in representatives of all vertebrate classes. The cyclostomes apart, the cells are
organized into cords which are grouped together to form adrenocortical
tissue. Because of the continued association of this tissue with the kidney
in adult forms, other names have been used-the suprarenal and interrenal bodies (see Chester Jones, 1957; Deane, 1962; Phillips and Bellamy,
1963). In vertebrates with a functional metanephros (mammals, birds,
and reptiles ) , the adrenocortical tissue forms a separate encapsulated
gland apposed to the kidneys. The gland includes chromaffi tissue which
in the Eutheria is aggregated centrally as the adrenal medulla, the cortex
being set about it centripetally in well-defined zones. In amphibia and
fish the adrenal cortex remains closely associated with the mesonephros
and is thus not a separate encapsulated gland (Chester Jones, 1957).
In the Cyclostomata, presumptive adrenocortical cells occur in scattered groups, in the walls of the cardinal veins (Sterba, 1955; Chester
Jones and Bellamy, 1964). Definitive proof of their identity, however, is
still lacking.
In Elasmobranchii the adrenal gland does not contain chromaffin tissue
thereby being the exception in the Gnathostomata and is situated on or
between the posterior lobes of the kidney. Of the actinopterygian fishes,
the teleost adrenocortical tissue is found in the anterior head kidney often
associated with the cardinal veins. Information on the other orders of
Actinopterygii ( Palaeoniscoidei, Chondrostei, and Holostei) is scanty.
In Protopterus (Dipnoi) adrenocortical cells lie in scattered groups on the
ventral surface of the kidney in a pattern similar to that found in larval
amphibia (Janssens et al., 1965).
While in more than 200 species of teleosts, adrenocortical tissue has
been established (van Overbeeke, 1960; Chavin and Kovacevic, 1961;
Nandi, 1962; Chavin, 1966; Olivereau, 1966; Hanke and Chester Jones,
1966) the picture is complicated by the presence of a number of encapsulated follicular bodies in the posterior part of the kidney. These are
usually paired, although in some primitive forms, e.g., Amiu calm (order
Holostei) (de Smet, 1962), and the teleostean salmonids, several pairs
may be present (see Bauchot, 1953). Histologically, the glandular cells
appear to discharge their secretory products into the central cavity of the
follicle (Rasquin, 1956; Ristow and Piepho, 1963; Hanke and Chester
CHESTER JONES, CHAN, HENDERSON, AND BALL
1. INTRODUCTION
A. The Adrenal Cortex
Cells arising embryologically from the mesonephric blastema, capable
of synthesizing certain steroid hormones, have been found in representatives of all vertebrate classes. The cyclostomes apart, the cells are
organized into cords which are grouped together to form adrenocortical
tissue. Because of the continued association of this tissue with the kidney
in adult forms, other names have been used-the suprarenal and interrenal bodies (see Chester Jones, 1957; Deane, 1962; Phillips and Bellamy,
1963). In vertebrates with a functional metanephros (mammals, birds,
and reptiles ) , the adrenocortical tissue forms a separate encapsulated
gland apposed to the kidneys. The gland includes chromaffi tissue which
in the Eutheria is aggregated centrally as the adrenal medulla, the cortex
being set about it centripetally in well-defined zones. In amphibia and
fish the adrenal cortex remains closely associated with the mesonephros
and is thus not a separate encapsulated gland (Chester Jones, 1957).
In the Cyclostomata, presumptive adrenocortical cells occur in scattered groups, in the walls of the cardinal veins (Sterba, 1955; Chester
Jones and Bellamy, 1964). Definitive proof of their identity, however, is
still lacking.
In Elasmobranchii the adrenal gland does not contain chromaffin tissue
thereby being the exception in the Gnathostomata and is situated on or
between the posterior lobes of the kidney. Of the actinopterygian fishes,
the teleost adrenocortical tissue is found in the anterior head kidney often
associated with the cardinal veins. Information on the other orders of
Actinopterygii ( Palaeoniscoidei, Chondrostei, and Holostei) is scanty.
In Protopterus (Dipnoi) adrenocortical cells lie in scattered groups on the
ventral surface of the kidney in a pattern similar to that found in larval
amphibia (Janssens et al., 1965).
While in more than 200 species of teleosts, adrenocortical tissue has
been established (van Overbeeke, 1960; Chavin and Kovacevic, 1961;
Nandi, 1962; Chavin, 1966; Olivereau, 1966; Hanke and Chester Jones,
1966) the picture is complicated by the presence of a number of encapsulated follicular bodies in the posterior part of the kidney. These are
usually paired, although in some primitive forms, e.g., Amiu calm (order
Holostei) (de Smet, 1962), and the teleostean salmonids, several pairs
may be present (see Bauchot, 1953). Histologically, the glandular cells
appear to discharge their secretory products into the central cavity of the
follicle (Rasquin, 1956; Ristow and Piepho, 1963; Hanke and Chester