Abstract
The existence of paracrine control of steroidogenic activity by adrenochromaffin cells in Triturus carnifex was investigated by in vivo adrenaline (A) administration. The effects were evaluated by examination of the ultrastructural morphological and morphometrical features of the tissues as well as the serum levels of aldosterone, noradrenaline (NA), and adrenaline. In March and July, adrenaline administration reduced aldosterone release (from 187.23 ± 2.93 pg/ml to 32.28 ± 1.85 pg/ml in March; from 314.60 ± 1.34 pg/ml to 87.51 ± 2.57 pg/ml in July) from steroidogenic cells. The cells showed clear signs of lowered activity: they appeared full of lipid, forming large droplets. Moreover, adrenaline administration decreased the mean total number of secretory granules in the chromaffin cells in July (from 7.74 ± 0.74 granules/μm^2^ to 5.14 ± 1.55 granules/μm^2^). In this period T. carnifex chromaffin cells contain almost exclusively NA granules (NA: 7.42 ± 0.86 granules/μm^2^; A: 0.32 ± 0.13 granules/μm^2^). Adrenaline administration reduced noradrenaline content (4.36 ± 1.40 granules/μm^2^) in the chromaffin cells, enhancing noradrenaline secretion (from 640.19 ± 1.65 pg/ml to 1030.16 ± 3.03 pg/ml). In March, adrenaline administration did not affect the mean total number of secretory vesicles (from 7.24 ± 0.18 granules/μm^2^ to 7.25 ± 1.97 granules/μm^2^). In this period the chromaffin cells contain both catecholamines, noradrenaline (3.88 ± 0.13 granules/μm^2^), and adrenaline (3.36 ± 0.05 granules/μm^2^), in almost equal quantities; adrenaline administration reduced adrenaline content (1.74 ± 0.84 granules/μm^2^), increasing adrenaline release (from 681.27 ± 1.83 pg/ml to 951.77 ± 4.11 pg/ml). The results of this study indicate that adrenaline influences the steroidogenic cells, inhibiting aldosterone release. Adrenaline effects on the chromaffin cells (increase of noradrenaline or adrenaline secretion) vary according to the period of chromaffin cell functional cycle. The existence of intraadrenal paracrine interactions in T. carnifex is discussed. J. Morphol. 261:18–25, 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.