The pattern of the chromaffin cells distribution in adrenal gland of adult one-humped camel

The chromaffin cells play a role in maintenance of blood pressure, carbohydrate metabolism and blood flow to vital organs during stress. Distribution of these cells is different in domestic mammals. Dispersion of these cells were studied in 40 one humped camels from 6 to 10 years old, after sectioning and staining with Hematoxylin-Eosin, Chromaffin and Mason’s trichrome. The gland is enclose within a capsule of dense collagenous connective tissue and many trabeculae separated from it and penetrated into the cortex. Medulla separated from cortex by a layer of dense collagenous connective tissue. Zona glomerolosa, zona fasiculata and zona reticularis are present in cortex and they constitute about 15%, 55% and 27% by volume of cortex respectively. The zona reticularis is greater in male camels compared with female camels, but there is no significant difference between them. Blood vessels that are surround with dense collagenous connective tissue passed through the cortex and all three layers of the cortex are present around them. Adrenal nodules that enclosed with dense connective tissue are present between cortex and medulla and contained all three layers of the cortex. Medulla extends to the capsule in some areas and cortex is absent in these subcapsular areas. Sometimes the adjacent cortex of these areas only contains zona reticularis. Arrangement of the chromaffin cells has a random pattern in females, whereas they are in two separate layers in males. Epinephrine producing cells are located in outer layer and norepinephrine producing cells in the inner layer of medulla.