Functional morphology of the adrenal cortex in newborns. I. Morphometric study.

Adrenal cortex of fetuses from abortion and newborns as well as 3 anencephalic monsters between 16 and 40 weeks gestational age was investigated. In order to follow the activity of adrenal cortex the volumes of nuclei and of cells were determined by means of morphometry in both the fetal and the definitive zones. The volume of cells showed correlation with gestational age only in the definitive zone. The absence of significant changes in the other (fetal) zone raises the possibility that dysfunction of the adrenal cortex and the consecutive insufficient adaptation could be made responsible for premature birth and perinatal mortality in the cases reported here.