Effects of hypergravity environment on the parathyroid gland of the norepinephrine-treated golden hamster: a stereological study

Effects of 5-gravity environment on the ultrastructure of the parathyroid glands of norepinephrine-treated golden hamsters were studied. In the centrifuged animals treated with norepinephrine, the volume density occupied by the Golgi complexes associated with numerous prosecretory granules was significantly increased compared with that of the control, centrifuged and norepinephrine-treated animals, as well as the volume density occupied by the cisternae of the granular endoplasmic reticulum compared with that of the control and centrifuged animals. In addition, in the centrifuged animals treated with norepinephrine, numerous secretory granules were situated close to the plasma membrane. It is suggested that the synthesis and release of secretory granules may be markedly stimulated in the parathyroid glands of the norepinephrine-treated golden hamsters subjected to a hypergravity environment.