HORMONE-RECEPTOR ABNORMALITIES IN ADRENAL CUSHINGS-SYNDROME

Cortisol secretion in ACTH-independent primary adrenal Cushing's syndr omes was previously believed to be autonomous. In most cases, the path ophysiology of the disease was largely unknown. However, recent work b y our group and others have shown that these cortisol-producing adreno cortical tumors may be under the control of inappropriate, illicit or ectopic hormone receptors. This review provides a rapid overview of th e physiology of the normal adrenal cortex and outlines recent findings supporting the hypothesis that cortisol production may be regulated b y a diversity of abnormal or ectopic hormone receptors in primary adre nal Cushing's syndrome.