Immunoreactive adrenomedullin in human adrenal glands and adrenal tumors

Adrenomedullin is a potent vasodilator peptide that was isolated from human pheochromocytoma. We developed a sensitive and specific radioimmunoassay for adrenomedullin and studied the presence of adrenomedullin in human adrenal glands and adrenal tumors, including pheochromocytoma. High concentrations of immunoreactive adrenomedullin were found in normal parts of adrenal glands (cortex and medulla) (12.6 +/- 1.0 pmol/g wet wt, N = 7, mean +/- SEM). High concentrations of immunoreactive adrenomedullin were also present in the tumor tissues of pheochromocytoma (4.5 +/- 1.5 pmol/g wet wt, N = 11). Immunoreactive adrenomedullin was detected in some adrenocortical tumors, but these concentrations were much lower than those in the normal adrenal glands and pheochromocytomas. Reverse phase high-performance liquid chromatography of the normal adrenal gland and pheochromocytoma showed a peak eluting in the position of synthetic adrenomedullin 1-52. The present study has shown the presence of high concentrations of immunoreactive adrenomedullin in the normal adrenal glands and pheochromocytomas.