Fine structural study of postcastrational adrenocortical carcinomas in female CE-mice

Postcastrational adrenocortical carcinomas in the CE/Ki inbred strains of mice and the adrenals of noncastrated CE/Ki mice were studied using light and electron microscopic techniques. Most of the tumors appeared as large nodules of cells separated by septae comprised of collagen and blood sinusoids. The majority of tumor cells (Type 1) showed few or no lipid droplets (sudanophobic), polymorphic hyperchromatic nuclei, lack of SER, abundant RER and free ribosomes, prominent Golgi complexes, and few mitochondria with scant internal membranes. Clusters of Type 1 cells were surrounded by a basal lamina. In contrast, Type 2 cells revealed abundant and dilated tubules of SER, large number of lipid droplets and mitochondria with tubulovesicular cristae. These results suggest that Type 2 cells were probably active in steroid hormone synthesis and secretion while Type 1 cells were highly anaplastic and apparently non-steroid-secreting cells.