SEARCH · Search PubMed
Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.
Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.
We report a 71-year old man who presented with symptoms of adrenal insufficiency and large bilateral adrenal masses. Computed tomography guided FNA biopsy was not diagnostic. However, because of the rapid growth of the masses, the negative workup for primary malignancy and the strong clinical suspicion of a lymphoma, an open biopsy was performed and a B-cell lymphoma was disclosed.
White Plymouth Rock chickens placed under 60% feed restriction or ad libitum feeding, with or without metyrapone (adrenal blocking agent) treatment, from 4 to 6 days of age were subjected to either 8 or 24 hr feed deprivation at 36 days of age. Chicks subjected to the neonatal 60% feed restriction (60R) but not those provided metyrapone during the procedure (60M) had elevated heterophil/lymphocyte (H/L) ratios. However, there was no difference in plasma corticosterone and ACTH responses between 60R and 60M chicks. Except for increases in H/L and plasma corticosterone concentrations among ad libitum fed (AL) and 60M chickens, respectively, there was no indication of stress response attributable to the subsequent 8 hr fast. Feed withdrawal for 24 h did not cause rises in H/L ratios and plasma levels of corticosterone of chicks that had been subjected to early 60% feed restriction with nonmetyrapone-treated feed. In contrast, chicks of other regimens had elevated H/L and plasma corticosterone responses when exposed to a similar procedure. Except for those fed ad libitum during the neonatal stage, circulating levels of ACTH declined following the 24-hr fast. These results demonstrate that stress early in life without concurrent rises in circulating corticosteroid levels may not help the biological system in coping with subsequent stressors.
Cell suspensions prepared by enzymatic dispersion of whole rat adrenal glands for the purpose of studying adrenocortical cells were found to contain chromaffin cells even though they are commonly thought to not survive in such preparations. These cells fluoresced when treated with methods specific for catecholamines. The fluorescent cells persisted in the cultures of "cortical" cells, took on the morphology of neurons in the cultures, maintained their specific catecholamine fluorescence in long-term cultures, and ultrastructurally were identical to chromaffin cells.
Isolation procedures for mitochondria from the zona glomerulosa of the bovine adrenal cortex are described and the properties of the mitochondria thus prepared are compared with those isolated from the zona fasciculoreticularis. The cristal membranes of mitochondria in the zona glomerulosa in situ are tubular or tubulovesicular, whereas those of mitochondria in the zona fasciculoreticularis in situ are vesicular. When mitochondria are isolated from the former zone, they invariably showed the condensed configuration regardless of isolation media, whereas those isolated from the latter zone in an ST medium showed the orthodox configuration. When Ca2+ was added to mitochondria isolated either from the zona glomerulosa or the zona fasciculoreticularis in an STE medium in the condensed configuration, a transition from the condensed to the orthodox configuration tool place; the cristal membranes of mitochondria from the zona glomerulosa became tubular or tubulovesicular and those of mitochondria from the zona fasciculoreticularis became vesicular. Contaminations of mitrochondria of the zona glomerulosa with other cellular organelles were examined using various marker enzymes. There was no difference in cytochrome content between mitochondria of the two zones specified above. The coupling efficiency of mitochondria of the zona glomerulosa was found to be remarkably effected by temperature during the isolation procedures. Effects of various substrates, isolation media, and bovine serum albumin on the coupling efficiency of mitochondria of the zona glomerulosa are also described.
Microsomes were obtained from the zona glomerulosa of the bovine adrenal cortex. Contamination of microsomes with other cellular organelles was examined using various marker enzymes and the electron microscope. Distribution of cytochrome P-450 in mitochondria and in microsomes was determined to be 0.73 and 0.32 nmol/mg protein, respectively. The CO difference spectrum was affected not only by the concentration of added deoxycholate but also by the incubation time after addition. Approximately 40-50% of cytochrome P-450 in the samples was converted to cytochrome P-420 within 20-30 sec of incubation with deoxycholate. The content of RNA, phospholipids, and cytochrome b5 in microsomes obtained from the zona glomerulosa is also evaluated in comparison to that in microsomes obtained from the zona fasciculoreticularis.
In a consecutive series of 15 male adolescents and young adults with congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH), the size, shape, firmness and echostructure of the testes were assessed. The latter was abnormal in 7 patients under long standing treatment with glucocorticoids (group I). In 8, 5 under and 3 off treatment for several years, ultrasonography (US) was normal (group II). On the basis of the US findings the patients were placed in two groups. In group I, the testes had a heterogeneous ultrasonographic pattern; clinically, most felt hard and irregular, although their volume was normal. Sperm count in 3 patients was 5.0 to 14.4 x 10(6)/ml. Five patients have 21-hydroxylase deficiency that was diagnosed in early infancy and had salt-wasting; two have 11-beta-hydroxylase deficiency that was diagnosed late and had no salt-wasting. In group II, testicular volume, shape, firmness and echostructure were normal. All have 21-hydroxylase deficiency, no history of salt-wasting and were diagnosed late. Sperm counts in 3 patients off treatment were 10.5 to 66.0 x 10(6)/ml. In severe cases with a history of salt loss, TALT with deficient spermiogenesis seems likely despite treatment. In mild cases, TALT is absent and spermiogenesis may be normal even without treatment. US is much more accurate in assessing the testes than palpation.
The innervation of the human adrenal gland and of cortical lesions was studied in sections of cortical tissue (n=10), hyperplastic cortical tissue (n=3), and tissue from cortical adenomas (n=5) and carcinomas (n=6). The presence and distribution of nerve structures containing neuronal markers indicating sympathetic and parasympathetic innervation were studied by immunohistochemistry and the co-existence and co-localization patterns of the different markers by immunofluorescence. The cortex and hyperplastic cortical tissue had a moderate to rich supply of nerve structures containing the typical neuronal markers: protein gene product 9.5 (PGP 9.5), neuron-specific enolase (NSE), small vesicle synaptic protein type 2 (SV2), and nerves showing immunoreactivity to the adrenergic marker tyrosine hydroxylase (TH). All these immunoreactive nerves were located predominantly adjacent to blood vessels, but also among parenchymal cells. The cortex showed numerous nerve structures containing the neuropeptide substance P (SP), neuropeptide Y (NPY) and vasoactive intestinal protein (VIP), but few nerves containing these peptides were seen in hyperplastic cortical tissue. Typical markers were occasionally observed in cortical adenomas but were not found in carcinomas, except in a few cases where PGP 9.5 and NSE were present, but only adjacent to necrotic areas. Nerves containing NPY and VIP occurred in varying numbers in both adenomas and carcinomas. NPY- and VIP-immunoreactive nerve structures were seen mostly alongside blood vessels. There were several types of co-existence. For instance, NSE/VIP-, TH/VIP- and TH/NPY-immunoreactive nerve structures were often seen in the same trunk, but were only partly co-localized.
BACKGROUND: Hypercapnia is a threat to homeostasis and results in neuroendocrine, autonomic and anxiogenic responses. The inhalation of carbon dioxide (CO2) may, therefore, provide a good paradigm for exploring the pathways by which stress can lead to increased susceptibility to ill-health through physiological and psychological stress reactivity. The current study was designed, therefore, to assess the psychological and physiological responses to the inhalation of CO2. METHODS: Healthy participants (N = 24) inhaled a single vital capacity breath of a mixture of CO2 (35%) and oxygen (65%). Blood pressure and heart rate were recorded for 5 min before and after the test and blood and saliva samples were taken immediately before and 2, 10, 20 and 30 min post-inhalation for the measurement of noradrenaline, salivary and serum cortisol and salivary alpha amylase. In addition, psychosomatic symptoms were recorded immediately before and after the test. The same protocol was repeated 4-6 weeks later at the same time of day. RESULTS: A single inhalation of CO2 increased blood pressure, noradrenaline, salivary alpha amylase and psychosomatic symptoms, but decreased heart rate at both testing sessions. Analyses of salivary cortisol data revealed that 70% of the sample could be reliably classified as either responders (i.e. demonstrated a post-CO2 cortisol increase) or non-responders (i.e. responded with a decrease or no change in cortisol following CO2) at both test sessions. Responders also perceived the test to be more aversive than non-responders. CONCLUSIONS: Inhalation of 35% CO2 reliably stimulated the key mechanisms involved in the human stress response. The inter-individual differences in the reactivity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis were also related to differences in the perception of the test.
We describe an unusual adrenal pseudocyst mimicking radiologically and clinically renal mass. The cyst measured 12 cm in diameter and had a fibrotic external envelope that was fused with the renal capsule. The possible diagnostic pitfalls encountered in this case are discussed.
Growing male Albino rats were adrenalectomized and then treated with corticosterone in an attempt to determine the activity of amino transferases (GPT and GOT) in the liver and in the mucosa of the small intestine over a period during which the animals received dietary proteins of varying quality. However, statistically significant differences in the enzyme activity were established for only those groups in which the animals exhibited differences in the functional state of the adrenal cortex. Differences due to changes in the quality of the dietary protein were not observed. From this was concluded that the activity of the amino transferases in the tissues is largely dependent on the action of corticosteroids.
OBJECTIVE: This study investigated endocrine and autonomic stress responses after repeated psychosocial stress. A first goal of the study was to investigate whether peripheral catecholamines and cardiovascular parameters would show similar or different habituation patterns after repeated stress. The second aim was to detect possible subgroups with regard to individual habituation patterns in the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and monitor their respective sympathetic stress responses. METHODS: Sixty-five healthy subjects (19-45 years), 38 men and 27 women, were exposed to the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST) three times with a 4-week interval between stress sessions. Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), plasma cortisol, salivary cortisol, epinephrine, norepinephrine, and heart rates were measures repeatedly before and after each stress exposure. RESULTS: All endocrine measures as well as heart rates increased significantly after each of the three stress sessions (F values >16.00, all p values <.01). Although salivary free cortisol, total plasma cortisol, ACTH, and heart rate stress responses showed a significant decrease across the three stress sessions (all F values > 5.8, p <.01), no such decrease could be observed for the levels of norepinephrine and epinephrine. A cluster analysis performed on the salivary free cortisol responses to all three stress sessions revealed two response groups consisting of 30 so-called "high responders" and 35 "low responders." The high responders also showed larger ACTH and total plasma cortisol responses compared with the low responders (all F values > 10.00, p <.01). No such differences between high and low responders could be observed with regard to catecholamine and heart rate responses. CONCLUSIONS: From these data we conclude that habituation to psychosocial stress seems to be specific for a given response system. Although HPA responses quickly habituate, the sympathetic nervous system shows rather uniform activation patterns with repeated exposure to psychosocial challenge.
Effect of bovine serum albumin on coupling efficiency of mitochondria isolated from the zona glomerulosa of the bovine adrenal cortex in various media was examined polarographically and electron microscopically. Albumin restored the coupling efficiency of mitochondria isolated from the zona glomerulosa regardless of isolation media when succinate or malate was oxidizable substrate. Respiratory controls greater than 5 were obtained. Albumin, however, had no effect when glutamate, beta-hydroxybutylate and pyruvate were the oxidizable substrates. The conditions have been found under which mitochondria of the zona glomerulosa stay in the orthodox configuration and yet coupled.
Following 7 days on a low sodium diet, a regular sodium diet or a high sodium diet each, urine samples were collected from 37 subjects in the final days of each sodium treatment. Urinary kallikrein excretion was determined in 9 patients with primary aldosteronism, 15 normal subjects and 13 patients with essential hypertension. Urinary aldosterone excretion, plasma renin activity (PRA), urinary sodium excretion, urinary potassium excretion and p-aminohippuric acid clearance were also determined on the same days. Levels of urinary kallikrein excretion in patients with primary aldosteronism due to aldosterone-producing adenoma (APA) were greater (p less than 0.05 to p less than 0.001) than those in patients with primary aldosteronism due to idiopathic adrenal hyperplasia (IHA) under any sodium diet. Other examined variables were of limited value in differentiating patients with APA from those with IHA. Urinary kallikrein excretion, urinary excretion of electrolyte, urinary aldosterone excretion, PRA and PAH clearance were similar in normal subjects and patients with essential hypertension. It appears reasonable to conclude from these data that urinary kallikrein does not play an important role in the pathogenesis of essential hypertension, and elevated urinary kallikrein excretion in patients with primary aldosteronism due to APA can be used for biochemical differentiation from those with IHA.
Hormonal studies and HLA genotyping were performed on the family of a patient with "acquired" adrenal hyperplasia (AAH) due to 21-hydroxylase deficiency. The results of these studies suggest that "AAH", is not the same genetic disease as CAH.
A microsomal fraction was obtained from the zona glomerulosa of the bovine adrenal cortex. Glucose-6-phosphate activity of the fraction was found to be much lower than that of the liver. Contents of RNA and phospholipids, besides electron microscopic findings, of the fraction also indicate that it is rich in smooth-surfaced endoplasmic reticulum. Distribution of cytochrome P-450 in the zona glomerulosa was studied using various fractions including the microsomal fraction described above. The amount of cytochrome P-450 in mitochondria and that in microsomes were determined to be 0.73 and 0.32 nmoles/mg protein, respectively. The CO-difference spectrum was affected not only by the concentration of added deoxycholate but also by the incubation time after addition. Approximately 40-50% of cytochrome P-450 in the samples were converted to cytochrome P-420 within 20-30 seconds of incubation with deoxycholate.
We have characterized the opiate binding sites on the membranes of bovine adrenal medulla and human pheochromocytoma, using 3H-labeled D-Ala2-D-Leu5-enkephalin ( [3H]DADLE), [3H]etorphine, and [3H]ethylketocyclazocine ( [3H]EKC). Binding was stereoselective in both membrane preparations. Association and dissociation kinetics showed that steady state was achieved after 20-25 min of incubation at 37 degrees. Saturation experiments were performed in the absence or in the presence of morphiceptin (1 microM), which masks the mu sites, D-Ser2-Leu-enkephalin-Thr6 (100 nM), which masks delta sites, or DADLE (5 microM), which was found to mask the delta, mu, and benzomorphan receptor. Taking into consideration the affinities of the three radioligands used (DADLE identifying the delta and mu sites when used in the nanomolar range; etorphine identifying the delta, mu, and benzomorphan sites; EKC identifying the delta, mu, kappa, and benzomorphan receptors) we have characterized pharmacologically the opiate sites present on bovine and human membranes. Human pheochromocytoma membranes contained (a) mu binding sites (15 fmoles/mg of protein, KD [3H]etorphine 1.0 nM, [3H]EKC 5.4 nM, [3H]DADLE 5.6 nM); (b) kappa sites (41 fmoles/mg of protein, KD [3H]EKC 1.0 nM); (c) benzomorphan sites (115 fmoles/mg of protein, KD [3H]etorphine and [3H]EKC 1.0 nM). On bovine membranes we have detected (a) delta binding sites (10 fmoles/mg of protein, KD [3H]DADLE 0.7 nM); (b) mu sites (24 fmoles/mg of protein, KD [3H]DADLE 2.9 nM, [3H]etorphine 0.2 nM, [3H]EKC 3.4 nM); (c) kappa sites (12 fmoles/mg of protein, KD [3H]EKC 0.4 nM); (d) benzomorphan sites (80 fmoles/mg of protein, KD [3H]etorphine 0.2 nM, [3H]EKC 1.3 nM); (e) a residual high-affinity (20 fmoles/mg of protein, KD 0.2 nM) site identified by [3H]etorphine in the presence of 5 microM DADLE. The relative proportions of benzomorphan sites were equal in both tissues (65% of the high-affinity sites) whereas kappa receptors were more abundant on human membranes (25%) than on bovine membranes (9% of the high-affinity sites).
The content of adrenaline, noradrenaline, ACTH, cortisol and insulin in the blood and excretion of catecholamines with urine were studied in horses after physical and emotional exposures. The highest degree of the sympathoadrenal system (SAS) and hypophysioadrenal system (HAS) activation followed by the insulin content decrease was observed after training. The known emotional exposure (the noise of hyppodrome) astivated both parts of SAS and HAS. The unknown emotional experience (electronic music) produced a strong adrenal medullar reaction. Analysis of the correlations showed that the initial background hormonal level predetermines the further activation of the system exposed to stressful situations. The reciprocal relations between the hormonal and mediator parts of SAS at rest are transformed to common activation under training. The level of the activity of one part of SAS monitors the other one. A relationship was established between SAS and HAS as well as between insulin and catecholamine content under physical and emotional exposures.
The results of examination of the hypophyseal-adrenal and sympatheticoadrenal systems in 69 patients with embolism of the main limb arteries are discussed. Marked activation of these systems in this category of patients during ischemia was revealed. A discrepancy was found between the blood adrenalin and cortisol levels in patients in a definite stage of the postischemic period and their hormonal effect on the body. The need to keep a record of disorders of the mechanisms of neurohumoral regulation in correcting the cardiovascular function in patients with acute arterial obstruction is emphasized.