[Spironolactone bodies. Light and electron microscope study apropos of 4 cases of adrenal adenomas with primary...

So-called Spironolactone bodies are reported in four adrenal cortical adenomas that were removed from patients with primary hyperaldosteronism, treated preoperatively with spironolactone. Their morphology is described optically : these round acidophilic cytoplasmic bodies have a laminated appearance that ranges in size from 2 to 20 mu in diameter. Electron microscopy of the zona glomerulosa non adenomatous cells and of adenomatous cells of glomerular type reveals numerous membranes arranged concentrically around a central core. Connections between the endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondria in the cytoplasm of the cell and lining layers of the body are described and analysed. The authors attempt to explain the formation and the increase of the bodies. Correlations appear between the number of spironolactone bodies and duration of administration of spironolactone and total drug dosage. The results are discussed with those of the literature.