Figure 3.

Leptin pathway in bilateral macronodular adrenal hyperplasia (BMAH) associated with Cushing’s syndrome. (A) Islets of adipocytes in the vicinity of steroidogenic cells in BMAH tissue. (B) Abnormal stimulatory effect of leptin (10⁻⁷ M) on cortisol secretion by cultured adrenocortical cells derived from a BMAH tissue in a patient with Cushing’s syndrome (p = 0.06). Adapted from Ref. (89). (C) Leptin reduces ACTH-induced cortisol secretion by cultured normal adrenocortical cells in a dose-dependent manner (*p < 0.01; **p < 0.001). Adapted from Ref. (87).