The adrenal chromaffin vesicle: an historical perspective

Unique histochemical properties of the adrenal medulla were first described in the middle of the nineteenth century. The most important histochemical reaction of this glandular tissue was with chromate salts which became known as the chromaffin reaction. The terms chromaffin cell and chromaffin vesicle stem from this reaction. During the first half of this century it was established that the chromaffin cells of the adrenal medulla are an integral part of the sympathetic nervous system and play a role in the response to acute stress. The chromaffin cell is recognized as a modified postganglionic sympathetic neuron and as such has proven to be an accessible and valuable model. Thirty years ago it was found that the secretory vesicle of the chromaffin cell could be isolated. This has led to the use of the chromaffin vesicle as a model for study of neurosecretory vesicles. This symposium presents an overview of recent work in various areas that have centered on the chromaffin vesicle.