Proliferating-cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) in the human adrenal glands at the end of the embryonic period.
Studies were performed on adrenal glands of 7 human embryos between 6 and 8 weeks of intra-uterine life using clone PC-10 mouse serum (Dako, No. M879). During the 6th week, immunoreactivity for the proliferating-cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) was observed only in the central and medial parts of the developing fetal zone of the adrenal gland (75.2 +/- 3.1% of adrenocortical cells showed nuclei stained with anti-PCNA), while the peripheral part was immunonegative. One week later the second outer layer, i.e. the permanent cortex appeared. During the 8th week, the cortex formed two distinct zones: a relatively large and centrally located fetal zone and a thin rim of definitive (permanent) cortex, the later adult adrenal cortex. PCNA-positive cells were present throughout the surface of the gland being most numerous in the center (76.4 +/- 1.4%) and less numerous in the peripheral part (16.6 +/- 2.6%). A very thin layer of permanent cortex surrounding the fetal zone showed less numerous cells stained for PCNA (36.4 +/- 3.4%) as compared with the inner fetal zone. During the 8th week the proliferative cells activity was similar in both zones. The middle proliferative center of the fetal zone disappeared, and all cells of this zone had similar PCNA reactivity.
Department of Anatomy, University School of Medical Sciences, Poznań, Poland.
J
J
Bocian-Sobkowska
W
W
Woźniak
M
M
Zabel
J
J
Surdyk-Zasada
D000302:Adrenal Cortex / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology* / Q000378:metabolism; D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D002452:Cell Count; D002455:Cell Division; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian / Q000378:metabolism*; D005314:Embryonic and Fetal Development; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D011247:Pregnancy; D011261:Pregnancy Trimester, First; D018809:Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen / Q000378:metabolism*
D018809:Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen