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Histogenesis and morphofunctional characteristics of chromaffin cells
Author(s) -
DíazFlores L.,
Gutiérrez R.,
Varela H.,
Valladares F.,
AlvarezArgüelles H.,
Borges R.
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
acta physiologica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.591
H-Index - 116
eISSN - 1748-1716
pISSN - 1748-1708
DOI - 10.1111/j.1748-1716.2007.01811.x
Subject(s) - adrenal medulla , chromaffin cell , histogenesis , biology , connective tissue , exocytosis , medulla , ganglion , microbiology and biotechnology , neuroscience , anatomy , catecholamine , endocrinology , secretion , immunology , immunohistochemistry , genetics
This article reviews the current status of research about the histogenesis and morphofunctional characteristics of chromaffin cells in the adrenal medulla. First, this study reports the selective migration, transcription and activation factors, and the morphological events of the chromaffin cell precursors during adrenal medulla development. Subsequently, the morphofunctional characteristics of adrenergic and non‐adrenergic cells are considered, with particular reference to the characteristics of chromaffin granules and their biological steps, including their formation, traffic (storage, targeting and docking), exocytosis in the strict sense and recapture. Moreover, the relationship of chromaffin cells with other tissue components of the adrenal medulla is also revised, comprising the ganglion cells, sustentacular cells, nerves and connective‐vascular tissue.