Dissociation of in vivo and in vitro "autonomy" in human adrenocortical tumour.
The diagnosis of Cushing's syndrome due to "autonomous adrenocortical tumour" has been established in a patient by appropriate examinations (especially dexamethasone suppression test, ACTH stimulation test, ACTH measurement by radioimmunoassay). Isolated cells have been prepared from a piece of the tumour by a trypsin technique so that the action of ACTH on steriodogenesis in these cells could be studied in vitro. Basal production of corticosteroids by the isolated tumour cells was low (0.3 mu plus or minus 0.04/2 h/10-5 cells). Addition of ACTH induced a dose-dependent stimulation of corticosteroid production. The tumour cells appeared to be unable to produce corticosteroids in the absence of ACTH; maximal production was rather low (1.38 mu plus or minus 0.07/2 h/10-5 cells). A possible explanation for the discrepancies between endocrine function tests and the results of the in vitro studies is given.
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000378:metabolism*; D000306:Adrenal Cortex Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D000310:Adrenal Gland Neoplasms / Q000503:physiopathology*; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000328:Adult; D003480:Cushing Syndrome / Q000209:etiology; D003907:Dexamethasone; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D013268:Stimulation, Chemical
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D003907:Dexamethasone; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone