Giant granules in adrenaline-secreting chromaffin cells of lizard adrenal glands after metyrapone administration

Summary Secretory granules of extraordinary size, some of them bigger than the cell nucleus, abound in the adrenaline cells of lizard adrenals after metyrapone injections during 7 days. In these granules, the bounding membrane is studded with ribosomes, and the core is formed by rounded small subunits. Some granules of this type are also found in noradrenaline cells. They may represent an exceptionally increased elaboration and storage of adrenaline, induced by metyrapone probably through its action on steroidogenic tissue.This research forms part of project No. 31.26.S1-1154 supported by the Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científícas y Tecnológicas.