Ultrastructure of aldosterone secreting adrenal adenomata.
Two adrenocortical adenomata causing Conn's syndrome were examined by electron microscopy. Adenomatous cells were arranged in small clusters and showed a rather different morphology, especially as far as mitochondria were concerned. Some cells contained mitochondria with lamellar and tubular cristae (zone glomerulosa-like cells), while other parenchymal elements displayed mitochondria with tubular and vesicular cristae (zona fasciculata-like cells). Both cells types were endowed with a quite well developed smooth endoplasmic reticulum, some lipid droplets and a prominent Golgi apparatus. Moreover, adenomatous cells with large masses of lipofuscin pigment granules were also observed (zona reticularis-like cells). These findings stress the structural heterogeneity of the Conn's adenomata.
D000236:Adenoma / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D000310:Adrenal Gland Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D000328:Adult; D000450:Aldosterone / Q000378:metabolism*; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000648:ultrastructure; D003594:Cytoplasmic Granules / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004721:Endoplasmic Reticulum / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005260:Female; D006056:Golgi Apparatus / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006801:Humans; D006929:Hyperaldosteronism / Q000473:pathology*; D008055:Lipids; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000648:ultrastructure
D008055:Lipids; D000450:Aldosterone