Endocrine System
Adrenal Gland, Cortex - Hyperplasia, Subcapsular
Narrative








This change is characterized by increased numbers of adrenal cortical subcapsular cells, generally considered to be the multipotential stem/progenitor cells that replenish senescent cells in the inner cortical zones. Under appropriate hormonal stimulation, the subcapsular cells can transdifferentiate into sex-steroid–producing cells resembling stromal gonadal cells. Two morphologically different types of subcapsular cells may be present in subcapsular hyperplastic lesions: elongated, spindle or fusiform type A cells (Figure 5













Focal subcapsular hyperplasia is considered a proliferative lesion in a morphologic continuum that can progress to adenoma and, rarely, to carcinoma. Subcapsular adenomas are also composed of variable mixtures of well-differentiated "spindle" and "polygonal" cells, so differentiating large focal hyperplasias from smaller adenomas can be challenging. Compared with hyperplastic foci, adenomas are larger, are more discretely nodular, clearly compress the adrenal parenchyma, and may even bulge prominently above the capsular surface due to pronounced expansile proliferation.
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Abstract: https://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/go/36137National Toxicology Program. 2013. NTP TR-578. Toxicology and Carcinogenesis Studies of Gingko biloba Extract in F344/N Rats and B6C3F1 Mice (Gavage Studies). NTP, Research Triangle Park, NC.
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Abstract: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/book/9780702035197Adrenal gland, Cortex - Hyperplasia, Subcapsular in a female Tg.AC (FVB/N) hemizygous mouse from a subchronic study. Early-stage subcapsular cell hyperplasia (SCH) is characterized by subcapsular foci of small, basophilic cells that extend into the zona fasciculata (arrow).
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