Author information Laboratory of Experimental Pathology National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27709, USA. Abstract Systemic hypoxemia, occurring in space-occupying lung pathologies such as inflammation and neoplasms. reduces the gas exchange area and stimulates catecholamine secretion from the adrenal medulla where chronic endocrine hyperactivity may lead to hyperplasia and neoplasia. We investigated the possible correlati