EM 291 Adrenal Cortex
Zona Fasciculata
Transmission electron micrograph (TEM) of two cells separated by a (red) from the zona fasciculata of the adrenal cortex.
These endocrine cells show features typical of steroid-producing cells: lipid droplets, mitochondria with tubular or vesicular cristae, and abundant smooth endoplasmic reticulum.
- (blue)/Nuclear Envelope (purple)
- (red) - many round or elliptical mitochondria with tubular or vesicular (tan)
- (SER; cyan) - small, anastomosing tubular elements and vesicles
- (yellow) - storage sites for triglycerides and cholesterol
- (black) - unlike lipid droplets are surrounded by a membrane
- Cytoplasm (green)
The narrowing width of the (red) indicate this is an almost tangential section. Several fibroblasts (tan) and cross-sections of collagen fibers (purple) are found adjacent to the capillary.