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Objective  The growth and differentiation factors activin and inhibin can affect tumour formation and steroid production in the adrenal cortex. These factors bind to type I (Alk‐4), type II (ActRIIA, ActRIIB) and type III (betaglycan) receptors or to the activin‐binding protein follistatin. Expression of these activin‐related mRNAs was measured in different types of adrenocortical tissues and tumours to study the relationship with tumorigenesis.

Design  Quantitative expression of activin‐related mRNAs was investigated in patient adrenocortical samples.

Patients  Twenty‐eight human adrenocortical samples from normal and hyperplastic adrenals and from adrenocortical adenomas and carcinomas were collected after surgery for study purposes.

Measurements  Using quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR), we investigated the expression of inhibin α‐, βA‐ and βB‐subunits, follistatin …