The effect of zinc deficiency on the ultrastructure of rat adrenal cortex

The adrenal cortex of male Sprague‐Dawley weanling rats maintained on a zinc‐deficient diet was studied by electron microscopy. There was a gradual increase in lipid droplets in the zona fasciculata which was quite marked at 7 weeks, but increased lipid was not observed in the zona glomerulosa or reticularis of zinc‐deficient rats. The adrenal cortex of the control animals did not show altered lipid content. A possible explanation for the effect of zinc deficiency on the adrenal cortex is offered.