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Results for “ADRENAL CORTEX”

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PubMed1992

Comparative studies on the effects of aminoglutethimide on hamster and rat adrenal cortex.

Adult female, intact or steroid suppressed hamsters were treated twice daily with 7 mg aminoglutethimide phosphate (AG) for 5 days while intact female rats received 14 mg AG per injection. AG resulted in an increase in adrenal gland weight of both hamster and rat. In the hamster AG had no effect on the amount of lipid droplets while in the rat a slightly higher number of fine lipid vacuoles was seen. In the hamster, enlargement of the gland was due to hyperplasia of the zona reticularis cells while in the rat the number of glomerulosa and fasciculata cells increased. AG had no effect on the adrenal cortex of steroid suppressed hamsters. The serum cortisol level was markedly higher in AG-treated hamsters while the corticosterone level was notably lower in AG-administered rats. In both hamsters and rats, AG-treatment did not change the serum ACTH level. Thus the study demonstrated different responses of the hamster and rat adrenal cortex to AG.

Adrenal Cortex↗
PubMed1977

A pregnenolone-binding protein in soluble fraction of guinea pig adrenal cortex.

A pregnenolone-binding component has been detected in the soluble fraction of the guinea pig adrenal cortex. Enzymatic degradation studies revealed that the binding component was a protein. The binding was destroyed at 60 degrees but was not inhibited by sulfhydryl reactants. Pregnenolone was bound optimally at pH 7 to 7.5 The equilibrium association constant at 0 degrees was 10(7) M-1. The pregnenolone-binding protein had an apparent molecular weight of 58,000, as determined by gel filtration. With the exception of pregnenolone sulfate, structurally similar steroids did not interfere with pregnenolone binding. No such binding activity was detected in the guinea pig liver and kidney. Serum contained pregnenolone-binding activity which was distinguishable from the adrenal cytosol factor by a variet of physicochemical means. The physiological importance of this finding remains to be determined.

Adrenal Cortex↗
PubMed1976

Adrenal cortex adenylate cyclase. Is Ca2+ involved in ACTH stimulation?

The chelator EGTA inhibits the activation of bovine adrenal cortex adenylate cyclase by ACTH. Hormonal response is restored by addition of Ca2+, Mn2+ and other cations which are able to significantly reduce the concentration of uncomplexed EGTA in the adenylate cyclase assy medium. Time course studies reveal that the enzyme in the activated state (induced by adenylate cyclase reagents and hormone or by pretreatment with hormone) is resistant to EGTA inhibition.

Adenylyl Cyclase Inhibitors↗
PubMed1998

Vascular patterns in the normal and pathological human adrenal cortex.

The vasculature of the adrenal gland has been studied by microinjection techniques in a variety of species. While there is general agreement about the overall patterns, some uncertainty still exists over the structure of medullary arteries and the connections between the sinusoids of the cortex and medulla. We have taken a new approach to these problems by applying immunohistochemical techniques to the human adrenal gland, identifying overall vascular patterns by endothelial expression of CD34 and muscular channels by smooth muscle actin. We have also examined adrenal nodules, adenomas and carcinomas to see whether these can be differentiated on the basis of their vascular patterns. The general pattern in the normal gland was similar to that found in injection studies, but there appeared to be more connections between sinusoids of the zona fasciculata than previously reported. There was direct continuity between cortical and medullary sinusoids. Medullary arteries were demonstrated as thin-walled vessels. Immunopositivity for smooth muscle actin was present in sinusoids, apparently in endothelial cells, suggesting that they may express this protein and thus have a contractile function. Macronodules and adenomas could not be reliably distinguished, both showing a rich network of sinusoidal vessels. Carcinomas showed marked disorganization, with large-calibre vessels interspersed with irregular networks of vessels of very small calibre.

Adrenal Cortex↗
PubMed1984

A comparative study on the steroidogenic response due to training and ACTH treatment in the adrenal cortex of the male rat.

The aim of this study was to ascertain the effects of training and ACTH administration on the steroidogenic in vitro response in the adrenal cortex of the rat when the tissue was incubated with ACTH. ACTH in vivo treatment resulted in a highly significant increase in the steroidogenic response (P less than 0.001) whereas training as such caused only a slight but insignificant increase in the steroidogenic responsiveness (P greater than 0.05). Training furthermore strongly suppressed the ACTH in vivo induced response (P less than 0.001). ACTH as such revealed the smallest effect on adrenal mass but the biggest effect on the steroidogenic response. It would seem that long term exercise resulted in an overall increase in the mass and size of the adrenal glands by either increasing the size of existing cells or by increasing the number of cells or both. The latter exercise-induced proliferation of adrenal tissue may involve an adaptive mechanism whereby larger total quantities of adrenal tissue of lowered steroidogenic efficiencies (on a mass basis) are produced in order to meet the stress resulting from the training program.

Adrenal Cortex↗
PubMed1987

Sex differences in adrenocortical structure and function. XXIV. Comparative morphometric studies on adrenal cortex of intact mature male and female rats of different strains.

The zonation and cellular composition of the adrenal cortex of intact mature male and female rats of different strains (Chbb Thomm, CFY) and three strains of Wistar rats (W1, W2 and W3) at the age of 84-90 days were compared using morphometry. Both absolute and relative adrenal gland weights were higher in female than male rats. Rats of W3 and Chbb Thomm strains had the largest adrenals. These differences depended upon the higher volume of the zona fasciculata (ZF) and zona reticularis (ZR) in the W3 and Chbb Thomm strains than in the remaining animals. Females had larger adrenocortical zones than corresponding males. The average volume of the ZF cell ranged in males from 1589 micron 3 (W1 strain) to 2111 micron 3 (Chbb Thomm) and in females from 2249 micron 3 (W1 strain) to 2894 micron 3 (W3 strain). The average nuclear volume of the ZF cells was higher in female rats whereas there were no strain- and sex-differences in the size of zona glomerulosa (ZG) and ZR cells. The total number of parenchymal cells per pair of adrenals varied markedly among the studied strains, with the highest number in W3 and Chbb Thomm females. W3, Chbb Thomm and CFY females had larger number of parenchymal cells than males; the reverse was true for W1 strain whereas no differences were found among W2 male and female rats.

Adrenal Cortex↗
PubMed2004

[Ultrastructural characteristics of rat adrenal cortex cultured cells in the norm and after calcium ionophore A23187 and adrenocorticotropic hormone application].

The ultrastructure of a fasciculata-reticularis zone cells of a rat adrenal cortex in norm, and after application of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and calcium ionophore A23187 was investigated. In the control it has been revealed three types of cells which differed on the ultrastructure. ACTH or ionophore A23187 application resulted in disappearance of a difference in ultrastructure of cells of different types, also all cells got morphological attributes of accelerated steroidogenesis. The probable role of cells with different types of ultrastructure for fasciculata-reticularis zone function, and also prospective participation of calcium ions in ACTH influences on ultrastructure of a fasciculata-reticularis zone is discussed.

Adrenal Cortex↗
PubMed1975

Observations on the fine structure of propylthiouracil-induced "brown degeneration" in the zona reticularis of mouse adrenal cortex.

Propylthiouracil (6-propyl-2-thiouracil), an anti-thyroid agent, was fed to mice in a concentration equal to 0.1% of their diet for periods of 10 and 15 weeks. The cells of the inner zone of the adrenal cortex were examined with the electron microscope. In animals receiving propylthiouracil for ten weeks mitochondria were altered and the smooth endoplasmic reticulum (SER) showed a marked focal proliferation. In contrast to control animals rough endoplasmic reticulum was abundant and was frequently associated with the hyperplastic SER. After 15 weeks these alterations were no longer present but had been replaced by a spectrum of "brown degeneration." The less affected cells were characterized by increased numbers of liposomes and lysosomes and the more affected cells by liposomal and mitochondrial degeneration. These observations emphasize that "brown degeneration" is a true degenerative process and not a spontaneous proliferation of ceroid pigment. It is suggested that the changes described may be directly related to an alteration in cholesterol metabolism.

Adrenal Cortex↗
PubMed1979

The regulation of adenylate cyclase of the adrenal cortex.

This short review summarizes some of the data concerning the regulation of adrenocortical adenylate cyclase by ACTH and other putative effectors, such as guanosine and nucleotides, divalent cations and adenosine. The available information on ACTH-sensitive adenylate cyclase of the adrenal cortex is discussed in comparison to other cyclase systems and the possible biochemical mechanisms of action of ACTH on the adrenal cortex.

Adenosine↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Mineralocorticoid function of the adrenal cortex in adolescent girls with thyrotoxicosis].

As a result of clinical examination of patients with juvenile thyrotoxicosis there was revealed an increase of the blood plasma renin and a derangement of mineralocorticoid function of the adrenal cortex expressed in increased aldosterone excretion, retention of sodium in the organism and reduction of potassium excretion. Normalization of aldosterone excretion in thyrotoxicosis compensation and after the surgical intervention can indicate the influence of increased amount of thyroid hormones on the mineralocorticoid function of the adrenal cortex.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

Relevance of major histocompatibility complex class II expression as a hallmark for the cellular differentiation in the human adrenal cortex.

Major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II antigens are expressed on adrenocortical cells of the zona reticularis and have been shown to be a marker of dignity. This suggests a correlation to the zellular differentiation of the adrenal cortex. Therefore, we immunohistochemically investigated the MHC class II expression in the context of the ontogenesis of the zonal and cellular differentiation in fetal, postnatal, childhood, and adult adrenals. Cell types and cell turnover were studied using specific immune markers (including expression of CD95/ Fas), in situ end labeling of apoptosis, and electron microscopy. We show that prenatal (fetal and definitive) steroid cells, as well as postnatal adrenals, reveal no expression of MHC class II. In childhood, these antigens first appear by the fourth year, in parallel with the differentiation of reticularis cells. The expression index in childhood was 7.43% +/- 2.78 (mean +/- SEM), in adult adrenals 18.63% +/- 3.14 (third decade), and 15.15% +/- 1.26 (fourth through sixth decade). In conclusion, MHC class II expression and the development of the functional maturation of the adult adrenal cortex occur simultaneously. The expression of MHC class II on steroid cells may thus be involved in potential immune-adrenal interactions.

Adrenal Cortex↗
PubMed2004

Growth hormone secretagogue receptor subtypes 1a and 1b are expressed in the human adrenal cortex.

Ghrelin is an endogenous ligand of the growth hormone secretagogue receptors (GHS-Rs), two subtypes of which have been recognized: the biologically active 1a and the biologically inactive 1b subtype. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction demonstrated ghrelin and GHS-R1b mRNAs in eight human adrenal cortexes, and GHS-R1a mRNA only in six of the eight adrenal specimens. The GHS-R1a expression was absent in the two adrenal cortexes obtained from 76- and 79-year old male patients. Since previous studies showed that ghrelin does not affect steroid-hormone secretion, the present findings suggest that ghrelin via the GHS-R1a could be involved in the autocrine-paracrine control of human-adrenal growth.

Adrenal Cortex↗
PubMed1989

Structural and functional alterations in the zona fasciculata of the rat adrenal cortex in obstructive jaundice.

This study investigated the effect of experimentally-induced cholestasis in the rat on the structure and function of the zona fasciculata, the glucocorticoid secretory region of the adrenal cortex. Wistar-Furth rats (200-250g) were assigned to three groups: bile duct ligated (BDL), Sham operated (Sham) and unmodified normal control (NC). On day 14, serum bilirubin and liver histology were performed to confirm cholestasis in BDL animals together with basal 24 hour 17-hydroxycorti-costeroid excretion, adrenal histology and zona fasciculata ultrastructure in all experimental groups. Following this laparotomy, structural and functional studies were repeated on day 15 to evaluate the response of the gland to surgically induced stress. Basal 24 hr, 17-hydroxycorticoid steroid excretion was elevated in BDL animals (26.9 +/- 3.2 micrograms/24 hr) with respect to Sham (10.4 +/- 2.3) and NC groups (13.5 +/- 3.2) (p less than 0.05). Adrenal histology and ultrastructural studies demonstrated excessive accumulation of vesicles laden with glucocorticoid biogenic precursors. Following surgical stress 24 hr 17 OH corticosteroid excretion increased in all groups: BDL (31.0 +/- 3.0 micrograms/24 hr) vs Sham (15.6 +/- 1.8) and NC (14.5 +/- 2.4) Moderate alterations in zona fasciculata architecture were seen following surgery in all groups. Cholestasis induces overactivity of the zona fasciculata of the adrenal cortex, and may modify the normal metabolic responses to surgical and other stresses.

17-Hydroxycorticosteroids↗