Abstract: Abstract:Objective To analyze different expression levels of ACTH-R in different adrenocortical neoplasms （ANs），and to compare the difference between sub-clinical Cortisol-producing adenoma（sub-CPA） with other ANs. Methods Detect the expression of ACTH-R and internal-reference β-actin mRNA in different ANs tissues through Real time PCR, compare the different expression of ACTH-R mRNA in different tissues, and make correlation analysis on ACTH-R expression in ANs. Results ACTH-R mRNA ratio was 0.961±0.164, 0.845±0.386, 0.636±0.104, 1.242±0.372, and 1.297±0.228 in normal adrenal cortex（NC）, aldosterone-producing adenoma (APA), cortisol-producing adenoma (CPA), sub-Clinical Cortisol-producing adenoma（sub-CPA）, and Adrenal nonfunctional adenoma（NFA） respectively. ACTH-R mRNA expression was significantly higher in NFA and sub-CPA than in normal adrenal cortex, APA and CPA (P<0.01), was significantly lower in CPA than in other groups (P<0.05). Conclusions Endocrine function of sub-clinical Cortisol-producing adenoma was low, different expression of ACTH-R may be one of factors.

Key words: Adrenocortical neoplasms, ACTH-receptor, real time Polymerase Chain Reaction