Neuroendocrine differentiation and nerves in human adrenal cortex and cortical lesions

Neuroendocrine differentiation and nerve distribution were studied in sections from human cortex (n=11) and cortical lesions (hyperplasias, n=9; adenomas, n=13; carcinomas, n=14) with four markers, namely chromogranin A(CEA), synaptophysin (SYN), neuron-specific enolase (NSE), protein gene product (PGP) 9.5 and small synaptic vesicle protein (SV)2. All but two cases expressed neuroendocrine differentiation. NSE was the most commonly occurring marker and the NSE immunoreactive cells were detected in normal cortex, mainly in zona glomerulosa, as well as in adenomas and carcinomas. SYN and PCP 9.5 immunoreactive cells were especially prominent in the carcinomas, while SV2 immunoreactive cells were seen mainly in normal cortex. The difference in distribution pattern of the neuroendocrine markers between adenomas and carcinomas was not so distinct that it can be used for histopathological diagnosis. The significance of neuroendocrine differentiation in cortex and cortical lesions is uncertain, but may reflect an involvement in special hormonal functions. No obvious relationship was found between the clinical syndromes and the degree of neuroendocrine differentiation. Three of the neuroendocrine markers also visualized nerve structures. PGP 9.5, which is regarded as the most 'general' nerve marker, visualized more nerve structures than did the other markers. Normal cortex contained most immunoreactive nerves, whereas they were less numerous in hyperplasias and sparse or even absent in the neoplasms. The nerves appeared among the parenchymal cells but were particularly prominent around vessels. The results suggest that the cortical nerves influence not only the regulation of the blood supply but also the hormonal regulation at the cellular level.