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Electron Probe Microanalysis Of Spironolactone Bodies

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 July 2020

J.P. McNeil
Affiliation:
University of South Alabama Medical Center, Department of Pathology, Mobile, AL36617
J.E. Carter
Affiliation:
University of South Alabama Medical Center, Department of Pathology, Mobile, AL36617
C.W. Boudreaux
Affiliation:
University of South Alabama Medical Center, Department of Pathology, Mobile, AL36617
F. McDonald
Affiliation:
University of South Alabama Medical Center, Department of Pathology, Mobile, AL36617
J.A. Tucker
Affiliation:
University of South Alabama Medical Center, Department of Pathology, Mobile, AL36617
J.A.C. King
Affiliation:
University of South Alabama Medical Center, Department of Pathology, Mobile, AL36617
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Extract

Spironolactone bodies (SB) were first described in 1963 by Janigan. These laminated, whorled structures are seen in cells of the adrenal zona glomerulosa in patients treated with the drug spironolactone. Spironolactone is an aldosterone antagonist. Hyperaldosteronism may result from excess production by the adrenal cortex. By both light microscopy and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), SB have a distinctive, laminated appearance. Kovacs, et al. observed that SB are composed of cellular constituents. To our knowledge, SB have not been analyzed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and electron probe microanalysis technology.

An adrenal gland with a 1 cm cortical mass was removed from a 39 year old female and received in 10% buffered formalin. Histologic examination of the mass showed a monotonous population of cells recapitulating zona glomerulosa cells. Intracytoplasmic structures compatible with SB were identified. Portions of the adrenal gland were processed for TEM and SEM analysis.

Type
Biological Microanalysis
Copyright
Copyright © Microscopy Society of America

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References

References:

1.Janigan, D.T.. Lancet 1(1963)850.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
2.Kovacs, K. et al., J Clin Path 26(1973)949.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
3.Vacher-Lavenu, M.C. et al., Annales de Pathologie 2(1982)311.Google Scholar
4.Acknowledgements to Rosemary Farmer and Adrian Hoff for their assistance.Google Scholar