Polycythemia with Features of Cushing’s Syndrome Produced by Luteomas

Abstract

The progressive changes of plasma and red-cell volumes of numerous mice bearing masculinizing luteomas and feminizing granulosa tumors were studied in relation to alterations of white- and red-cell counts and hematocrits. The observations were correlated with data from the literature on the effect of hormones on hemopoiesis and on blood volume. Masculinizing and feminizing ovarian tumors of the mouse have different hematological effects. Transplants of a luteoma produce features of Cushing''s syndrome with polycythemia and masculinization. There is an absolute increase of the red-cell volume resulting in polycythemic hypervolemia. As testicular androgens, progestin or cortical hormones, all promote erythropoiesis, only actual isolation can identify the causative hormone. Transplants of feminizing granulosa tumors, on the contrary, produce an increase of plasma volume and relative anemia. Erythropoiesis is not depressed. The hypervolemia is simple or oligocythemic. The polycythemia of luteomas goes with stimulation of erythropoiesis, and marked rise of reticulocytes in the blood and extramedullary erythropoiesis, but with no excessive red-cell destruction. Hormones appear to play a role not only in hemopoiesis but also in blood-volume maintenance and the 2 are interrelated.