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Vitamins and Hormones 2024Mouse models have been widely used in the study of adrenal gland development and diseases. The X-zone is a unique structure of the mouse adrenal gland and... (Review)
Review
Mouse models have been widely used in the study of adrenal gland development and diseases. The X-zone is a unique structure of the mouse adrenal gland and lineage-tracing studies show that the X-zone is a remnant of the fetal adrenal cortex. Although the X-zone is considered analogous to the fetal zone in the human adrenal cortex, the functional significance of the X-zone has remained comparatively more obscure. The X-zone forms during the early postnatal stages of adrenal development and regresses later in a remarkable sexually dimorphic fashion. The formation and regression of the X-zone can be different in mice with different genetic backgrounds. Mouse models with gene mutations, hormone/chemical treatments, and/or gonadectomy can also display an aberrant development of the X-zone or alternatively a dysregulated X-zone regression. These models have shed light on the molecular mechanisms regulating the development and regression of these unique adrenocortical cells. This review paper briefly describes the development of the adrenal gland including the formation and regression processes of the X-zone. It also summarizes and lists mouse models that demonstrate different X-zone phenotypes.
Topics: Mice; Humans; Animals; Adrenal Glands; Adrenal Cortex; Adrenal Cortex Neoplasms
PubMed: 38408801
DOI: 10.1016/bs.vh.2023.05.003 -
American Family Physician Jun 2010The increasing use of cross-sectional imaging has led to an increase in the incidental discovery of adrenal masses (adrenal incidentalomas). Although most of these... (Review)
Review
The increasing use of cross-sectional imaging has led to an increase in the incidental discovery of adrenal masses (adrenal incidentalomas). Although most of these lesions are benign, they often present a diagnostic dilemma. Before creating a management plan, the physician should determine if the lesion is benign or malignant and if the lesion is functioning or nonfunctioning. Incidentally discovered adrenal masses usually are benign adenomas; however, myelolipomas, cysts, hemorrhage, pheochromocytomas, metastases, and adrenocortical carcinomas are also possible. Unenhanced computed tomography and chemical shift magnetic resonance imaging can characterize most adenomas because the lesions have high lipid content. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography can further characterize the adenomas because of the washout characteristics with iodinated intravenous contrast media. Fluorodeoxyglucose- positron emission tomography can be helpful in characterizing some lesions, and biopsy is rarely required. This article summarizes the American College of Radiology Appropriateness Criteria for the use of imaging modalities and biopsy to characterize incidentally discovered adrenal masses.
Topics: Adrenal Gland Diseases; Adrenal Gland Neoplasms; Adrenal Glands; Biopsy; Diagnosis, Differential; Humans; Incidental Findings; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Tomography, X-Ray Computed
PubMed: 20521756
DOI: No ID Found -
The Journal of Reproduction and... Feb 2004In order to clarify the functional relationship between thyroid, adrenal and gonadal hormones, hypothyroidism was induced by administration of thiuoracil in adult male... (Review)
Review
In order to clarify the functional relationship between thyroid, adrenal and gonadal hormones, hypothyroidism was induced by administration of thiuoracil in adult male and female rats, and the effects of hypothyroidism on the adrenal and the gonadal axes were investigated in the present study. 1. The functional relationship between thyroid and adrenal hormones: Adrenal weights and corticosterone were lowered, whereas the secretion of ACTH, corticotrophin-releasing hormone (CRH) and arginine vasopressin (AVP) increased in hypothyroid rats compared to euthyroid rats. These results indicate that hypothyroidism causes adrenal dysfunction directly and results in hypersecretion of CRH and AVP from the hypothalamus. 2. The functional relationship between thyroid and gonadal hormones: The pituitary response to LHRH was lowered, whereas the testicular response to hCG was not changed in hypothyroid rats. Hypothyroidism suppressed copulatory behavior in male rats. These results suggest that hypothyroidism probably causes dysfunction in gonadal axis at the hypothalamic-pituitary level in male rats. In adult female rats, hypothyroidism inhibited the follicular development accompanied estradiol secretion, whereas plasma concentrations of progesterone and prolactin (PRL) increased in hypothyroid female rats. Hypothyroidism significantly increased the pituitary content of vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) though it did not affect dopamine synthesis. These results suggest that hypothyroidism increases pituitary content of VIP and this increased level of VIP likely affects PRL secretion in a paracrine or autocrine manner. In female rats, inhibition of gonadal function in hypothyroid rats mediated by hyperprolactinemia in addition to hypersecretion of endogenous CRH.
Topics: Adrenal Gland Diseases; Adrenal Glands; Animals; Gonadal Hormones; Hypothyroidism; Thyroid Gland
PubMed: 15007197
DOI: 10.1262/jrd.50.9 -
The Journal of International Medical... Nov 2021We report a case of interdigitating dendritic cell sarcoma (IDCS) originating from the adrenal gland. A 57-year-old middle-aged woman with no previous history of... (Review)
Review
We report a case of interdigitating dendritic cell sarcoma (IDCS) originating from the adrenal gland. A 57-year-old middle-aged woman with no previous history of malignancy came to our hospital after color Doppler ultrasound revealed a right adrenal mass. An abdominal computed tomography scan also showed an adrenal mass. Postoperative pathology confirmed the diagnosis of IDCS. After complete surgical removal of the adrenal tumor, the patient has been disease-free for 1 year. IDCS may have a good prognosis after surgical resection. To our knowledge, this is only the second reported case of IDCS in the adrenal region.
Topics: Adrenal Glands; Dendritic Cell Sarcoma, Interdigitating; Female; Humans; Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin; Middle Aged; Tomography, X-Ray Computed
PubMed: 34772309
DOI: 10.1177/03000605211055410 -
Archives of Pathology & Laboratory... Jul 2013Adrenal schwannoma is a rare type of adrenal incidentaloma, an adrenal lesion found incidentally, usually on imaging or autopsy. Computed tomography and magnetic... (Review)
Review
Adrenal schwannoma is a rare type of adrenal incidentaloma, an adrenal lesion found incidentally, usually on imaging or autopsy. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging are tools used to evaluate adrenal lesions. The diagnosis of adrenal schwannoma, however, cannot be made on imaging alone. Surgical resection is the primary means of management of adrenal schwannomas, as it is not possible to distinguish the schwannoma from malignant entities simply based on imaging. Histopathologic features of adrenal schwannomas are similar to those of schwannomas found at other sites. Conventional schwannomas, consisting of alternating Antoni A and Antoni B areas as well as Verocay bodies, have distinct microscopic features and can be readily distinguished from other entities. Cellular schwannomas, on the other hand, consist only of intersecting fascicles of spindle cells or Antoni A areas, resulting in a wide differential diagnosis. Ancillary studies such as immunohistochemical analysis and electron microscopy can help to provide a specific diagnosis.
Topics: Adrenal Gland Neoplasms; Adrenal Glands; Biomarkers, Tumor; Female; Humans; Immunohistochemistry; Incidental Findings; Male; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; Neurilemmoma
PubMed: 23808475
DOI: 10.5858/arpa.2012-0291-RS -
The Journal of Veterinary Medical... Aug 2011Ultrasonography is a sensitive and specific screening method for assessing the adrenal glands. The upper limit of the normal adrenal gland width is used as 7.5 mm. It is... (Comparative Study)
Comparative Study
Ultrasonography is a sensitive and specific screening method for assessing the adrenal glands. The upper limit of the normal adrenal gland width is used as 7.5 mm. It is not known if adrenal gland width remains consistent with body weight. A reliable criterion of adrenal gland width in small breed dogs should be established. Small breed dogs with body weights of less than 10 kg were divided into two groups: 189 normal dogs and 22 dogs with pituitary-dependent hyperadrenocorticism (PDH). A retrospective study was conducted on dogs seen between January 1, 2006, and February 10, 2008. One hundred eighty-nine dogs of 14 different small breeds were enrolled in the normal adrenal gland group; the median gland width was 4.20 mm. Twenty-two dogs were in the PDH group; the median gland width was 6.30 mm. The cut-off value between normal adrenal glands and PDH was 6.0 mm. This figure gave a sensitivity and specificity of 75 and 94%, respectively, for detecting PDH. The adrenal gland appeared as a peanut shape with homogeneous hypoechoic parenchyma in normal dogs and in most dogs with PDH as well. This study was performed in a large population of small breed dogs and suggests that the normal adrenal gland size in small breed dogs is smaller than previously reported. We believe that a cut-off of 6.0 mm may be used as the criterion for differentiating a normal adrenal gland from adrenal hyperplasia.
Topics: Adrenal Glands; Adrenocortical Hyperfunction; Animals; Body Weight; Dog Diseases; Dogs; Female; Male; Organ Size; Retrospective Studies; Sensitivity and Specificity; Ultrasonography
PubMed: 21467755
DOI: 10.1292/jvms.10-0479 -
Polski Przeglad Chirurgiczny Jun 2018Introduction Adrenal insufficiency is a typical complication after surgical treatment of adrenal tumors, especially after the removal of both adrenal glands. Human...
UNLABELLED
Introduction Adrenal insufficiency is a typical complication after surgical treatment of adrenal tumors, especially after the removal of both adrenal glands. Human beings are not able to survive without adrenal glands and without proper hormonal substitution. Autotransplantation of a fragment of the adrenal gland may prevent this complication. This can be done by transplanting the entire adrenal glands or its fragment, such as the adrenal cortex cells. In the case of adrenal tumors, the entire adrenal gland can not be transplanted. However, it is possible to transplant cells from the tumor-free part. Succesful adrenal autografts may result in a new treatment of adrenal insufficiency.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Autograft transplantation was performed on 3 groups of Sprague Dawley rats. In the first group, physiological corticosterone concentrations were determined. These animals were not operated. In the second group, both adrenal glands were removed. Corticosterone concentrations were determined after bilateral adrenalectomy. The third group was divided into two parts. In the first subgroup, bilateral adrenalectomy was performed simultaneosly with adrenal transplant into the omentum. In the second subgroup, right adrenalectomy was performed simultaneosly with and adrenal transplant into the omentum followed a month later by left adrenalectomy. During the experiment, corticosterone concentrations were measured at 4 time points.
RESULTS
The statistical difference between corticosterone concentrations in rats after two timed adrenalectomies and rats after bilateral adrenalectomy was statistically different, but these results were far from physiological concentrations.
Topics: Adrenal Cortex; Adrenal Gland Neoplasms; Adrenal Glands; Adrenalectomy; Animals; Autografts; Corticosterone; Disease Models, Animal; Male; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley
PubMed: 30220673
DOI: 10.5604/01.3001.0011.8178 -
Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery Aug 2021Adrenal gland size and its association with body weight have been rarely evaluated in cats. This study was undertaken to assess the association between feline body...
OBJECTIVES
Adrenal gland size and its association with body weight have been rarely evaluated in cats. This study was undertaken to assess the association between feline body weight and adrenal gland thickness, and to propose reference intervals (RIs) for adrenal gland thickness in healthy cats.
METHODS
This was a cross-sectional study in which 39 healthy cats were included. The cats were divided into two weight categories, classified as ⩽4.0 kg and >4-8 kg of ideal body weight (with 13 and 26 cats in each group, respectively), which took into consideration the body condition score of the cats. All cats underwent an ultrasound examination that was taken from a subcostal position. Maximum dorsoventral thicknesses of the left (MTL) and right (MTR) adrenal glands were measured in a sagittal plane. RIs were obtained for the maximum thickness (MT), which included the MTLs and MTRs of each cat. RIs with the 90% confidence intervals were calculated according to American Society for Veterinary Clinical Pathology guidelines on RIs.
RESULTS
No statistical differences for adrenal gland thickness were observed between the left and right ( = 0.543) adrenal glands or between male and female cats ( = 0.943). Mean MT was significantly greater in the group of cats weighing >4-8 kg compared with the group of cats weighing ⩽4 kg (3.7 ± 0.6 vs 3.2 ± 0.4 mm; <0.005). The lower limit of the RI for MT was 2.4 mm (range 2.2-2.6 mm) in the group weighing ⩽4 kg and 2.6 mm (range 2.4-2.8 mm) in the group weighing >4-8 kg. The upper limit of the RI for MT was 3.9 mm (range 3.7-4.1 mm) in the group of cats weighing ⩽4 kg and 4.8 mm (range 4.6-5.1 mm) in the group of cats weighing >4-8 kg.
CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE
The use of RIs based on two group sizes allows for a more accurate ultrasonographic evaluation of adrenal gland thickness in cats. The maximum normal adrenal gland thickness is lower in smaller cats (3.9 mm for those weighing ⩽4 kg and 4.8 mm for those weighing >4-8 kg).
Topics: Adrenal Glands; Animals; Body Weight; Cats; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Male; Retrospective Studies; Ultrasonography
PubMed: 33236660
DOI: 10.1177/1098612X20974962 -
Open Veterinary Journal Feb 2023Computed tomography (CT) is useful for evaluating the anatomical position of the adrenal gland and the presence of adrenal tumor (AT) metastasis or vascular invasion...
BACKGROUND
Computed tomography (CT) is useful for evaluating the anatomical position of the adrenal gland and the presence of adrenal tumor (AT) metastasis or vascular invasion from ATs.
AIM
To determine a weight-independent reference for adrenal gland size in normal dogs using CT.
METHODS
The medical records database of Gifu University was searched for data collected from April 2010 to December 2015 for records of dogs that underwent abdominal CT. The CT images were retrospectively analyzed using a Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine viewer. The ratios of the minor axes of the adrenal glands to the height of the spinal cavity were investigated.
RESULTS
In total, 939 dogs were included. The left and right adrenal minor axes showed a moderate positive correlation with body weight (right: = 0.61, < 0.05; left: = 0.54, < 0.05). The L4 spinal cavity height showed a strong positive correlation with body weight ( = 0.82, < 0.05). The left and right adrenal minor axis/L4 spinal cavity ratio did not correlate with body weight (right: = 0.02, = 0.53; left: = -0.082, < 0.05). The 95% confidence intervals of the adrenal minor axis/L4 spinal cavity ratios were as follows: right: 0.5-1.3 and left: 0.5-1.4.
CONCLUSION
These results indicate that the adrenal minor axis/L4 spinal cavity ratio can be used as an index of adrenal gland size that is not affected by body weight. Patients in whom the adrenal minor axis/L4 spinal cavity ratio exceeds the upper limit (right 1.3, left 1.4) may have adrenal swelling.
Topics: Dogs; Animals; Retrospective Studies; Adrenal Glands; Tomography, X-Ray Computed; Body Weight; Dog Diseases
PubMed: 37073243
DOI: 10.5455/OVJ.2023.v13.i2.10 -
Reproduction (Cambridge, England) Jun 2016Social stress during pregnancy has profound effects on offspring physiology. This study examined whether an ethologically relevant social stress during late pregnancy in...
Social stress during pregnancy has profound effects on offspring physiology. This study examined whether an ethologically relevant social stress during late pregnancy in rats alters the reproductive axis and adrenal gland structure in post-pubertal male and female offspring. Prenatally stressed (PNS) pregnant rats (n=9) were exposed to an unfamiliar lactating rat for 10 min/day from day 16 to 20 of pregnancy inclusive, whereas control pregnant rats (n=9) remained in their home cages. Gonads, adrenal glands and blood samples were obtained from one female and one male from each litter at 11 to 12-weeks of age. Anogenital distance was measured. There was no treatment effect on body, adrenal or gonad weight at 11-12 weeks. PNS did not affect the number of primordial, secondary or tertiary ovarian follicles, numbers of corpora lutea or ovarian FSH receptor expression. There was an indication that PNS females had more primary follicles and greater ovarian aromatase expression compared with control females (both P=0.09). PNS males had longer anogenital distances (0.01±0.0 cm/g vs 0.008±0.00 cm/g; P=0.007) and higher plasma FSH concentrations (0.05 ng/mL vs 0.006 ng/mL; s.e.d.=0.023; P=0.043) compared with control males. There were no treatment effects on the number of Sertoli cells or seminiferous tubules, seminiferous tubule area, plasma testosterone concentration or testis expression of aromatase, FSH receptor or androgen receptor. PNS did not affect adrenal size. These data suggest that the developing male reproductive axis is more sensitive to maternal stress and that PNS may enhance aspects of male reproductive development.
Topics: Adrenal Glands; Animals; Animals, Newborn; Behavior, Animal; Female; Male; Pregnancy; Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Reproduction; Sex Factors; Social Behavior; Stress, Psychological
PubMed: 27026714
DOI: 10.1530/REP-16-0097