[Adrenal cortex transplantation. Animal experimental models for the human Cushing and Conn syndromes--clinical aspects of adrenal cortex transplantation].

Thymusaplastic mutants of mice (nu/nu) and rats (rnu/rnu) were used as recipients for tissue of one aldosteronoma of a 21-year-old male patient with Conn's syndrome and for tissue of one adenoma of a 28-year-old female patient with Cushing's syndrome. In this animal experimental study we succeeded in demonstrating that congenitally athymic rodents are ideal recipients for xenotransplantation of adrenal cortical tissue. The graft viability was demonstrated by obtaining light and electron micrographs of the biopsied transplants and its endocrine function documented by the measurements of plasma renin, cortisol, and urinary excretion of aldosterone, cortisol, and corticosterone. Fifteen patients are presented who were surgically treated for Cushing's disease. Fourteen patients with adrenocortical hyperplasia underwent total adrenalectomy and two had after adrenalectomy autotransplantation of adrenal tissue in the forearm muscle. One patient was treated with a transsphenoidal, partial hypophysectomy. Our clinical experience with Cushing's disease showed that the initial surgical procedure may be directed to the pituitary and only in unsuccessful surgery to the adrenals. Adrenal autotransplantation after total adrenalectomy is an obsolete procedure.