BACKGROUND Sex steroid hormone receptors have been identified in the adrenal gland of rat, sheep and rhesus monkey, indicating a direct effect of sex steroids on adrenal gland function. METHODS In the present study, immunohistochemistry using two different mouse monoclonal antibodies was employed to determine the presence of oestrogen receptor alpha (ERalpha) and progesterone receptor (PR) in...

Mouse and monkey adrenal glands were used to study the relationships between gap junction protein expression, intercellular communication and adrenal zonation. Dye communication patterns were determined by incubating freshly excised and hemisected adrenal glands in Lucifer yellow, a gap junction permeable fluorescent dye. Immunohistochemical techniques were used to localize adrenal gap junction...

The human adrenal cortex, involved in adaptive responses to stress, body homeostasis and secondary sexual characters, emerges from a tightly regulated development of a zone-specific secretion pattern during fetal life. Its development during fetal life is critical for the well being of pregnancy, the initiation of delivery, and even for an adequate adaptation to extra-uterine life. As early as ...

The adrenal glands were first described in 1552 by the Italian anatomist Bartolomeo Eustachi in his Opuscula Anatomica as ‘‘glandulae renis incumbentes’’ (glands lying on the kidney) [1], but their function remained controversial for the next 300 years [2]. The adrenal have a dual origin (Fig. 2.1a, b), i.e. the cortex arises from mesoderm whereas the medulla has a neuroectodermal origin [2]. T...

Somatostatin receptors are present in the normal adrenal cortex and medulla. These receptors are also expressed by tumors that cause Cushing's syndrome and by pheochromocytomas. Somatostatin analogues such as octreotide have been developed to target somatostatin receptors for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. This article reviews the current knowledge of the biology of somatostatin receptors...

Presumptive evidence for the production of steroids by the human fetal adrenal gland has accumulated during recent years. The studies involved mostly analysis of fetal adrenal tissue (14) or umbilical cord blood (5-8) for steroid content, the results of which did not unequivocally establish steroid synthesis by the fetal adrenal cortex. Lanman and Silverman (9) demonstrated the conversion of pr...

The distribution pattern of nerves immunoreactive to neuronal factors typical for sensory neurons, such as substance P (SP), calcitonin gene – related peptide (CGRP), somatostatin (SOM), galanin (GAL) and nitric oxide synthase (NOS), used here as the marker of nitrergic neurons was studied by single immunofluorescence technique in various parts of the porcine adrenal gland i.e. subcapsular regi...

spontaneous adrenal hematoma is a very rare condition and its prevalence has been reported to be about 1% in previous studies. although various causes have been proposed to explain its incidence in existing case reports, the etiology and pathology of this condition is still not known. the present study presents a case of spontaneous adrenal hematoma in a pregnant 31 year old woman without histo...

Even though there is not enough good data, the use of laparoscopic approach in malignant disease is regarded by some controversial issue. On the other hand it seems that transperitoneal access to the adrenal gland allows for effective and safe oncological removal of adrenal gland neoplasms. The aim of the study was to present our experience with the use of transperitoneal approach in patients w...