Neoplasms of the adrenal cortex in noncastrate mice.

Neoplasms of the adrenal cortex have appeared following gonadectomy in mice of both sexes of certain strains (2, 3, 10-17), and there were indications that such adenomas secreted estrogenic hormone. Although the incidence of cortical adenomas was high in gonadectomized mice of these strains, similar tumors in noncastrate animals are apparently very rare (1, 8). Consequently, it was of interest to the authors that in the Minnesota line of the N H strain of mice 1 adenomas appeared spontaneously in a majority of female mice over 12 months of age. Although true carcinomas have not been observed thus far in females of this stock, two malignant adrenal cortical tumors have appeared in male animals, one in an intact N H mouse almost 2 years, of age, a second in an F1 hybrid male ( N H • Strong A) which had received whole body irradiation with x-rays. These tumors were approximately one-third the size of the kidney. Cortical neoplasms also appeared in mice of other stocks which have been irradiated with x-rays. This subject will be discussed in a future communication.