Characterization by Immunofluorescence of an ACTH-like Substance in Nonpituitary Tumors from Patients with Hyperadrenocorticism1

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Abstract
Antiserum specific to porcine ACTH was used to study nonpituitary tumors from patients with hyperadrenocorticism by the fluorescent antibody technique in order to characterize further a substance in the tumors which is biologically similar to ACTH. These tumors stained specifically for ACTH by this technique. The pituitaries of 2 of the patients contained lower than normal amounts of ACTH and the plasma of the patients contained increased levels of ACTH-like activity by bio-assay. One of the tumors with biological activity did not stain. The histopathology of these tumors and its relation to the ACTH content of the tumors is discussed. From the data presented, it would seem that certain tumors are capable of producing a substance biologically and immunologically similar to ACTH which suppresses the normal ACTH-producing mechanism in the pituitary.

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