Adrenocortical hemorrhagic necrosis: the role of catecholamines and retrograde medullary-cell embolism

Journal Article · Thu Oct 01 04:00:00 EDT 1981 · Arch. Pathol. Lab. Med.; (United States)

OSTI ID:5501549

Szabo, S; McComb, D J; Kovacs, K; Huettner, I

We investigated the pathogenesis of adrenal necrosis using animal models of the disease (induced by administration of acrylonitrile, cysteamine, or pyrazole) and human cases. Results of electron-microscopic and histochemical time-response studies with rat models revealed an early, retrograde embolization of medullary cells and cell fragments in the cortical capillaries that showed prominent endothelial injury. The experimental adrenal lesions were prevented by surgical removal of the medulla one month before administration of adrenocorticolytic chemicals, or by the administration of the alpha-adrenergic antagonist phenoxybenzamine hydrochloride. Histochemical staining for medullary (argyrophil) granules in human cases of adrenal necrosis demonstrated tissue fragments that stained positively for silver in vascular cortical spaces in nine of ten autopsy specimens and in all four surgical cases we reviewed. Thus, catecholamines released from the adrenal medulla and from the retrograde medullary emboli in the cortex may have a role in the pathogenesis of adrenocortical necrosis.

• OSTI ID: 5501549
• Journal Information: Arch. Pathol. Lab. Med.; (United States), Journal Name: Arch. Pathol. Lab. Med.; (United States) Vol. 105:10; ISSN APLMA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

550200 -- Biochemistry
550900* -- Pathology
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
ADRENAL GLANDS
AMINES
ANIMAL TISSUES
AROMATICS
BIOCHEMISTRY
BIOLOGICAL MODELS
BODY
CATECHOLAMINES
CHEMISTRY
EMBOLI
ENDOCRINE GLANDS
ENDOTHELIUM
GLANDS
HEMORRHAGE
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
NECROSIS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANS
PATHOLOGICAL CHANGES
PATHOLOGY
PHENOLS
POLYPHENOLS
SYMPTOMS
TISSUES