Distribution of Lipid, Protein and Cholesterol in Adrenal Gland during Postnatal Development in Buffalo

Abstract

The study was conducted on the adrenal gland of 29 buffalo calves for one year to investigate the distribution of lipids and proteins. Based on their ages calves were divided into three groups, Group-I (day old to 3 months), Group-II (more than 3 months to 6 months) and Group-III (more than 6 months to 1 year).
A positive reaction to cholesterol was observed in the cortical cells of the gland in Group – I. The concentration of protein was more in the cells of adrenal cortex and medulla in Group – III. The cells of the zona glomerulosa showed higher content of proteins than the cells of zona fasciculata, zona reticularis and foetal cortex in Group – I. However, the concentration of protein was same in all the cortical zones in Group – II and Group – III
The capsule of the gland in all age groups showed a negative to low amount of fine lipid droplets. Sudan black-B positive lipid droplets content was negative to low in the capsule, low in the zona glomerulosa, high in the zona fasciculata and zona reticularis and negative in the outer and inner zones of medulla and in the area separating cortex and medulla which corresponded to the region of degenerating foetal cortex. Increased amount of lipid in the zona fasciculata may be related to secretion of glucocorticoids. The phospholipid content was more in the cortex as compared to the medulla; however, the cholesterol content was moderate in all the cortical zones and negative to low in the medullary cells.