Beth Walczak, Graduate Student, Hammer Laboratory, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan Medical School

The adrenal gland produces hormones like cortisol and adrenaline to help combat stress. The cells in this organ are very active and have to continually regenerate themselves. This is an image of the stem cells of the adrenal gland that are responsible for this amazing regenerative process. In this photograph, the same group of cells is shown four times. The cells have been stained (red, green and blue) to visualize “marker proteins” that are expressed by different cells that are doing different jobs. The fused image of all colors reveals a complex rainbow that is composed of several different types of cells. Together, this technicolor population is responsible for making all of the cells of the adrenal cortex to enable us to respond appropriately to stress throughout life.

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