The cellular composition of the adrenal medulla of sexually mature guinea pigs.

The adrenal glands from 15 guinea pigs aged 90 days were used in the study. Paraffin slices were stained with Mayer haematoxylin and eosin with Masson method and silvered. The histochemical reactions were carried out for catecholamines and the biochemical determinations of catecholamines. Ultrastructural observations were also performed. In the adrenal medulla of sexually mature guinea pigs numerous epinephrocites and no noreoinefrocites were observed when histochemical methods were used. The small and large ganglion cells accompanying the supporting and neurolemmal cells formed typical gangliar weaving (medullary ganglia). Apart from epinephrocytes, small and large ganglion cells and supporting and neurolemmal cells, small intensively fluorescent (SIF) cells were also detected. Biochemical investigation revealed that the mean content of adrenaline calculated for a pair of adrenal glands was 98.87% of the pool of catecholamines, whereas the mean content of noradrenaline was 1.00%, and of dopamine 0.13%.