Pharmacological stimulation of chromaffin cell proliferation in the adult adrenal medulla.
Many strains of rats develop adrenal medullary hyperplasia and/or neoplasia after chronic administration of a wide variety of pharmacologic agents. The same changes may occur spontaneously in the course of aging. Current evidence suggests that chromaffin cell proliferation in adult rats is regulated by a combination of hormonal and neurogenic signals. Drugs associated with adrenal medullary tumors might act directly or indirectly on the hypothalamic-endocrine axis or the autonomic nervous system to stimulate chromaffin cell proliferation through mechanisms which normally adjust cell number to meet physiological needs. The increased cell turnover rate might be a prelude to other events leading to neoplastic transformation.
Tischler
A S
AS
Department of Pathology, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts.
Ruzicka
L A
LA
Donahue
S R
SR
DeLellis
R A
RA
D000313:Adrenal Medulla / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects; D000818:Animals; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D002838:Chromaffin System / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects; D010600:Pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D011916:Rats, Inbred F344; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains