Recovery Processes in the Adrenal Glands of Minks

The aim of the present research is to study the cyclic changes in secretory, destructive and proliferative processes in the adrenal gland cortex of minks. Material and methods . The material is collected between December and April at a monthly interval. The fragments of adrenal glands were fixed in Shtiva, Buen, Zenker fluids and in 10% neutral formalin solutions. PAS-reaction, trichrome-PAS and tetrachrome-PAS staining were applied. RNA was revealed by Brachet’s reaction and by gallocyanine according to Einarson. The material fixed in 10% neutral formalin solution was used to study lipids. Results . Cyclic changes of morphofunctional indices of minks’ adrenal cortex have been studied. In December, zona glomerulosa, zona fasciculate and zona reticularis were clearly manifested. In zona glomerulosa polygonal cells with moderately vacuolated cytoplasm are present. In zona fasciculate there are cells which do not differ from the cells of zona glomerulosa. In January, a decrease in the functional activity of the cortical parenchyma and the development of extensive destructive changes of glandular cells in all zones of the cortical substance of the adrenal cortex were found. In February, extensive proliferative processes and increased secretory activity of the adrenal cortex were observed. Small cells of proliferation centers migrate to zona fasciculate and begin function actively. In March, the recovery processes in the adrenal cortex are finished.