Comparative microanatomy of suprarenal gland of anencephalic and normal fetuses of different gestational age groups

Sixty suprarenal glands (both right and left) of different gestational age groups were studied to see the cytoarchitecture of the normal and anencephalic fetuses. The present study was carried out in the Department of Anatomy, Government Medical College & Hospital, Chandigarh. The material for the study consisted of 60 spontaneously aborted human fetal specimens from 12th to 28th weeks of gestational ages (30 - normal fetuses, 30 - anencephalic fetuses). The suprarenal glands were taken from fetal specimens for histological study. The staining was done by hematoxylin and eosin. Histologically, it was observed that suprarenal gland has a superficial narrow zone of darkly stained cells underneath the capsule, which was the permanent cortex and a deeper lighter zone called the fetal cortex. The changes were seen in thickness of capsule, medulla and the layers of the cortex and these layers were compared with the anencephalic suprarenal gland. The study will establish the micro development of suprarenal gland inhuman fetuses in North-West Indian population. The arrangement of cells in the permanent cortex changed from the discrete cells and clusters to well formed glomerulus like structure with increasing gestational period. Fasciculoreticular zone of the fetal cortex decreased in thickness as gestation advanced. The cells were arranged in columns extending deeper into the cortex toward medulla. Sinusoidal vessels increased in number and were 34 μm wide at 11-15 weeks and decreased to 15 μm at >25 weeks gestation. In the medulla, the ganglionic cells were 3-4/field initially which increased to 25-30/field in later gestation period. Few cells showed vacuolization at 11-15 weeks and there was presence of fibrous zone in the medulla consisting of collagen fibers with fibroblasts at >15-20 weeks suggesting early degenerative changes whereas in anencephalic fetuses the medulla was observed to be bulkier as compared to permanent cortex. The fetal cortex was observed till 20 weeks of gestation but after 20 weeks fetal cortex diminished.