THE NUMBER OF CATECHOLAMINE STORAGE GRANULES IN ADRENAL MEDULLA
Abstract
A method is described for counting the catecholamine-containing heavy granules of adrenal glands. There are 5.0 ! 0.8 (S. E.) x 10 to the 12th power granules/gram wet weight of fowl adrenal gland. Individual heavy granules contain about 8 million molecules of catecholamines (1.4 x 10 to the 17th power mole). Reference to published electron microphotographs of adrenal medulla cells allows estimation of the average volume of heavy granules and calculation of the intragranular concentration of catecholamines. The latter probably exceeds 0.5 M. Therefore, unless catecholamines are chemically bound to some polyvalent constituent within the heavy granules, their osmotic activity would be expected to be greater than is consistent with the maintenance of granule integrity.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Nov 01, 1962
- Accession Number
- AD0296336
Entities
People
- E. Avery
- W.r. Burack
Organizations
- Harvard Medical School