BCL-2 And Cell Apoptosis's Application Research On Adrenal Gland Neoplasms

Background and objective:The differential endocrine regulation mechanism of adrenal tumours have been reported by several opinions including distribution of various immunohistochemical markers in the normal as well as neoplastic adrenal cortex and medulla.But the reason is not still reconganised. Immunohistochemical expression of Bcl-2 and cell apoptosis were evaluated to determine whether any usefulness of immunostaining and apoptosis index could be found for differentiating functioning adrenal tumours from non-functioning adrenal tumours. In addition, immunohistochemical expression of Bcl-2 and cell apoptosis were evaluated to determine whether to participate in the endocrine regulation of adrenal tumours.Design:Formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded material comprising 33 cases functioning adrenal tumours (FAT), 23 cases non- functioning adrenal tumours (NFAT) and 4 cases normal adrenal gland (NA) tissue were analyzed by immunohistochemical staining for the expression of Bcl-2 and by cell apoptosis in TUNEL.A statistical analysis was performed between these groups by using chi-square, Fisher's exact probabilities, the un-paired t-test and Wilcoxon's test. Spearman correlation coefficients(r) were used as parameters of association. Statistical difference was accepted at P<0.05.Results:In the normal adrenal gland , Bcl-2 positive cells was exclusively detected in adrenal cortex and medulla,and TUNEL-positive cells wasn't almost detected . Functioning adrenal tumours (6.3 ± 1.2%) and normal adrenal gland (3.8 ± 1.1%)-groups showed an average percentage of Bcl-2 positive cells lower than non-functioning adrenal tumours (13.1 ± 1.8%)-group(P<0.05 by SAS ).The rate of apoptotic cells was higher in functioning adrenal tumours (1.14 ± 0.30%) than in non-functioning adrenal tumours (0.48 ± 0.25%) and in normal adrenal gland (0.18 ± 0.05%) (P<0.05 by SAS).Conclusions:Bcl-2 does not appear to be useful in differentiating adrenalcortical from medullary tumours.Immunohistochemical staining for the expression of Bcl-2 and cell apoptosis in TUNEL appear to be useful in differentiating functioning adrenal tumours from non- functioning adrenal tumours. These provide us with a way to recognize functioning adrenal tumours and non-functioning adrenal tumours.