Summary
Ultrastructural and morphometrical analysis of brown pigment in pigmented (black) and non-pigmented adrenocortical adenomas of Cushing's syndrome and non-functioning pigmented adrenocortical nodules was performed in reference to tissue concentrations and in vitro production of steroids by the adenoma tissue. Pigment in pigmented adenomas was of membrane-bound lysosomal nature, while that of pigmented nodules contained membrane-unbound droplets of lipoid character. The morphometrical study showed little difference among individual adenomas. There was no difference between pigmented and non-pigmented adenomas in the amount of production and tissue concentrations of steroids. The steroid concentrations in a pigmented nodule were lower than those in an adenoma of Cushing's syndrome, but not significantly. Discussion is focused on the difference of pigment of lysosomal nature and of lipoid peroxidation.
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This study was in part supported by a grant from the Ministry of Health and Welfare “Disorders of adrenal hormone” Research Committee, Japan
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Suzuki, Ki., Ojima, M. & Sasano, N. Ultrastructure of pigment in adrenocortical pigmented adenomas of Cushing's syndrome and in non-functioning pigmented nodules with respect to tissue steroid analyses. Vichows Archiv A Pathol Anat 405, 161–173 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00704369
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00704369