HISTOCHEMICAL OBSERVATIONS ON NODULAR PORTIONS IN ADRENAL CORTEX OF AGING RATS

Nodular portions of the adrenal cortex in the aging rats were examined histochemically. From the observations on lipid distribution and histological feature, the cortical nodules were classified into the following three types: 1) Type I consists of the compact cells containing no or scanty fine granules of lipid. 2) Type II consists of the large cells containing moderate amounts of small of middle sized granules of lipid. 3) Type III consists of the cells with vacuolated cytoplasm and abundant lipid droplets. In the nodule of Type III, increased activity of secondary alcohol dehydrogenase was usually consistent. On the other hand, histochemical activities of the enzyme tended to more variable in Type I and Type II. The possible relations of these nodules including few transitional forms were considered