Weight range of adrenal glands in most of cases of cushing's disease is -

Ans. is 'd' i.e., 25-40 gm o The weight of adrenal gland depends on the cause of cushing syndrome : ? Due to ACTH production by pituatory microadenoma (cushing disease) or by ectopic ACTH production. o ACTH stimulates the zona reticularis and zona fasciculata which results in either diffuse hyperplasia (25-40 gm) or nodular hyperplasia (30-50 gm) of adrenal. Primary pituitary adenoma Weight is less than 30 gm. Primary pituitary carcinoma -4 Weight is 200-300 gm. Exogenous glucocoicoid administration o Exogenously administered glucocoicoids inhibit the release of ACTH from pituitary by negative feed back mechanism. o So, there is no stimulatory signal on zona fasciculata and zona reticularis --> Both these layers undergo atrophy. o As zona glomerulosa function is independent of ACTH, its thickness remains normal. o Due to atrophy the weight of the gland is less than normal, i.e., < 4 gm.