HISTOCHEMICAL DEMONSTRATION OF KETOSTEROIDS IN ADRENAL CORTICAL TUMORS WITH OR WITHOUT AN ASSOCIATED CUSHING’S SYNDROME1

Abstract
Adrenal cortical tumors associated with Cushing''s syndrome contained active lipoidal ketonic carbonyl groups (presumably corticosteroids) when fixed in formalin for brief periods (mos.) and little or no carbonyl groups (presumably other ketosteroids) when fixed in formalin for yrs. The solubility of the corticosteroids in water though slight is believed to explain this phenomenon. Six of 9 adrenal cortical tumors not known to be associated with Cushing''s tumor or virilism contained active ketonic carbonyl groups in the lipoid droplets of the tumor cells (presumably 1 or more of the ketosteroids).