Chromaffin cell

Chromaffin cell

Chromaffin cells are neuroendocrine cells found in the medulla of the adrenal gland (suprarenal gland - located above the kidneys) and in other ganglia of the sympathetic nervous system. They are derived from the embryonic neural crest.

In the fifth week of (human) fetal development, neuroblast cells migrate from the neural crest to form the sympathetic chain and preaortic ganglia. The cells migrate a second time to the adrenal medulla. Chromaffin cells also settle near the sympathetic ganglia, vagus nerve, paraganglia, and carotid arteries. In lower concentrations, extra-adrenal chromaffin cells also reside in the bladder wall, prostate, and behind the liver.

Function

Chromaffin cells of the adrenal medulla are innervated by the splanchnic nerve and secrete epinephrine, norepinephrine, and enkephalin endogenous ligands, or specifically endorphins as they are internally derived and bind to the body's opioid receptors, into the blood stream. As such, they play an important role in the fight-or-flight response. They are also referred to as granules and this is where the enzyme dopamine-hydroxylase catalyzes the conversion of dopamine to noradrenaline. Distinct N and E cell forms exist (also Na and A cells in British nomenclature - noradrenaline and adrenaline); the former produce norepinephrine, the latter arise out of N cells through interaction with glucocorticoids, and convert norepinephrine into epinephrine. [Wheater's Functional Histology, 5th ed. Young, Lowe, Stevens and Heath.]

Nomenclature

These cells are so-named because they can be visualized by staining with chromium salts. Chromaffin salts oxidize and polymerize catecholamines to form a brown color, most strongly in the cells secreting noradrenaline.

(The enterochromaffin cells cells are so named because of their histological similarity to chromaffin cells (they also stain yellow when treated with chromium salts), but their function is quite different.)

References

External links

* - "Endocrine System: adrenal gland, reticularis and medulla"
* [http://www.mpibpc.gwdg.de/abteilungen/140/projects/Chromaffin.html Secretion Control in Adrenal Chromaffin Cells]
* [http://medicine.ucsd.edu/hypertension UC-San Diego Chromaffin Cell and Hypertension Research]
* [http://webpages.ull.es/users/isccb12/ChromaffinCell/Primer.html A Primer on Chromaffin Cells]
* [http://www.natureprotocols.com/2006/09/29/rat_chromaffin_cells_primary_c.php Rat Chromaffin cells primary cultures: Standardization and quality assessment for single-cell assays (a protocol)]


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем сделать НИР

Look at other dictionaries:

  • chromaffin cell — A type of cell that makes neurohormones (chemicals that are made by nerve cells and used to send signals to other cells) and releases them into the blood. Chromaffin cells make epinephrine (adrenaline) and norepinephrine (noradrenaline). They are …   English dictionary of cancer terms

  • chromaffin cell — See granins …   Dictionary of molecular biology

  • Medullary chromaffin cell — Adrenal gland. (Medulla labeled at bottom right.) Latin endocrinocytus medullaris Code TH …   Wikipedia

  • chromaffin cell tumor — pheochromocytoma …   Medical dictionary

  • Cell culture — in a Petri dish Epithelial cells in culture, stained for keratin (red) an …   Wikipedia

  • Cell — The basic structural and functional unit in people and all living things. Each cell is a small container of chemicals and water wrapped in a membrane. Each cell in the human body there are 100 trillion cells in each of us contains the entire… …   Medical dictionary

  • List of topics in cell biology — Cell invokes a major branch of theory and research known variously as cell biology, cellular biology or cytology. The study of cell tissues is known as histology. Cell types are often referred to using the suffixes blast, clast, cyte, especially… …   Wikipedia

  • chromaffin — Giving a brownish yellow reaction with chromic salts; denoting certain cells in the medulla of the adrenal glands and in paraganglia. SYN: chromaphil, chromatophil (3), chromophil (3), chromophile, pheochrome (1). [chrom + L. affinis, affinity] * …   Medical dictionary

  • chromaffin reaction — the taking on of a deep brown color by tissue of the adrenal medulla or other types that contain the catecholamines epinephrine and norepinephrine, within 12 hours after it is placed in a dichromate solution; this can be used to detect… …   Medical dictionary

  • chromaffin system — the chromaffin cells of the body considered collectively; see under cell …   Medical dictionary

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”