Ultrastructure of pigment in adrenocortical pigmented adenomas of Cushing's syndrome and in non-functioning pigmented nodules with respect to tissue steroid analyses.
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.
D000236:Adenoma / Q000473:pathology / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D000293:Adolescent; D000306:Adrenal Cortex Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003480:Cushing Syndrome / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010860:Pigments, Biological / Q000378:metabolism; D013256:Steroids / Q000378:metabolism*
D010860:Pigments, Biological; D013256:Steroids