SUBCAPSULAR CELL HYPERPLASIA AND MAST-CELL INFILTRATION IN THE ADRENAL-CORTEX OF MICE - COMPARATIVE-STUDY IN 7 INBRED STRAINS

Subcapsular cell hyperplasia (SCH) in the adrenal cortex of aged mice (13-15 months old) was frequent in both sexes of BALB/c, C3H/He, DBA/2 J and lQI/Jic mice and in the females of AN and C57/BL/6, although the incidence and severity of SCH were considerably different among mouse strains. Mast cells were closely associated with SCH in the A/J, BALB /c, C57BL/6, DBA/2J and IQI/Jic mice, but not in the C3H/He strain. Co mpared with other strains, IQI/Jic mice had a significantly larger num ber of mast cells in the adrenal glands. Our findings suggest that mas t cells may participate in the development of SCH, and IQI/Jic would b e suitable for studying the pathogenesis of SCH and the role of mast c ells in this lesion.