Abstract
In several patients who were later autopsied, atrophy or destruction of the zona fasciculata and zona reticularis was followed by Addison''s Disease without pigmentation. When destruction included the zona glomerulosa, pigmentation occurred. In several cases of selective destruction of the zona glomerulosa (caused by hemochromatosis, severe cachexia, amyloid disease and myxedema), hypotension and pigmentation occurred without changes in carbohydrate metabolism. Therefore, the destruction of the zona glomerulosa is responsible for pigmentation in Addison''s disease, as well as in hemochromatosis and acanthosis nigricans.