Abstract

DISTRIBUTION OF LIPID MATERIALS AND CORTICOSTERONE LEVELS WITHIN THE ADRENAL GLAND OF VARIOUS POSTNATAL DEVELOPMENTAL STAGES OF A WILD SPECIES OF RAT, RATTUS SIKKIMENSIS

Debiprosad Chattopadhyay and Chanchal Kumar Manna*

ABSTRACT

The adrenal gland is a complex endocrine organ and it secretes hormones which affect a multitude of essential systems, including stress response, immune function, cardio vascular regulation and anabolic or catabolic processes. In order to define age-dependent changes within the adrenal gland in a group of wild rat, Rattus sikkimensis, a systematic analysis of functional and growth-related parameters was performed by investigating the adrenal glands of male and female mice from weaning to adulthood (1-60 days old) at the histochemical, biochemical and immunohistochemical level. Furthermore, the amount of stored lipids and the expression of one key enzyme involved in steroidogenesis, i.e., side-chain-cleavage enzyme (SCC) was explored within the adrenal glands at specific time levels. Results of this investigation clearly point out no zonal demarcation in the distribution of lipid materials within the adrenal gland at the initial stages. But after 14 days on words a clear distribution of sudanophilic lipid droplets were observed in the zona glomerulosa, zona fasciculata and zona reticularis regions. Serum corticosterone concentrations were monitored throughout the investigation periods. Hormonal levels at various age (1-60 days) groups cannot be correlated with the distribution of lipid materials in this wild rodent species.

Keywords: Steroidogenesis, Age-dependent, Lipid materials, Corticosterone, Stored-lipids, Side-chain cleavage.