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. 2022 Jan;45(1):209-214.
doi: 10.1007/s40618-021-01628-y. Epub 2021 Jun 30.

COVID-19 autopsy cases: detection of virus in endocrine tissues

A M Poma  1 , D Bonuccelli  2 , R Giannini  1 , E Macerola  1 , P Vignali  1 , C Ugolini  1 , L Torregrossa  1 , A Proietti  1 , M Pistello  3 , A Basolo  4 , F Santini  4 , A Toniolo  5 , F Basolo  6
Affiliations

COVID-19 autopsy cases: detection of virus in endocrine tissues

A M Poma et al. J Endocrinol Invest. 2022 Jan.

Abstract

Purpose: The SARS-CoV-2 genome has been detected in a variety of human samples including blood, urine, semen, and faeces. However, evidence of virus presence in tissues other than lung are limited.

Methods: We investigated whether SARS-CoV-2 could be detected in 50 autoptic specimens of endocrine organs from 29 patients who died of COVID-19.

Results: The virus was detected in 25 specimens including ten abdominal subcutaneous adipose tissue samples (62%), six testes (67%), and nine thyroid (36%) samples. The analysis of multiple endocrine organ samples obtained from the same patients showed that, in virus-positive cases, the viral genome was consistently detected in all but two matched specimens.

Conclusion: Our findings show that the virus spread into endocrine organs is a common event in severe cases. Further studies should assess the rate of the phenomenon in clinically mild cases. The potential long-term effects of COVID-19 on endocrine functions should be taken into consideration.

Keywords: Adipose tissue; COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; Testis; Thyroid.

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Conflict of interest statement

All authors have no conflict of interest to declare.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
The bar plots show the relative abundance of SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid (N) and RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) gene amplicons in adipose tissue (A), testis (B), and thyroid (C). Relative expression levels were computed by the 2−ΔΔCt method using the RT-PCR internal positive control as reference. Insects refer to cases with very low viral load that were not visible using the default scale. D Ten cases for which different organs were available. Left: grey bars represent days from initial symptoms to death as reported by family members. Right, detection of SARS-CoV-2 genome in matched samples (red, positive; blue, negative; grey, specimen not available)
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Hematoxylin and eosin staining of adipose, testis, and thyroid specimens (A, C, E) and immunohistochemical staining of SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid antigen (B, D, F). A Histologic sections of adipose tissue showing adipocytes of different size. B Granular distribution of SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid antigen in adipose tissue. C High magnification of normal testis showing seminiferous tubuli. D Moderate brown staining of SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid antigen in the cytoplasm of testis cells. E Low magnification of thyroid parenchyma. Follicles of different size are present. F Strong cytoplasmic staining for SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid antigen in thyroid follicular cells. Original magnification: A 40 × , B 40 × , C 40 × , D 40 × , E 10 × , F 60 ×
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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