Vascularization of the adrenal cortex: its possible involvement in the regulation of steroid hormone release

ABSTRACT The steroid hormone excretion in an anencephalic foetus was studied by analysis of steroids in the meconium and urine. The meconium (14.3 g) contained about 2.7 mg of isomers of pregnane-3,20-diol, pregnane-3,16,20-triol and pregnane-3,20,21-triol. 1.7 ml of urine was collected from 24 h after birth of the foetus until death at 52 h of age. The following steroids were identified in the urine after hydrolysis with enzymes of Helix pomatia: 3α,6α-dihydroxy-5α-pregnan-20-one; 3β,6α-dihydroxy-5α-pregnan-20-one; 16α-hydroxy-5α1 and 5β2-pregnane-3,20-dione; 6α-hydroxy-5β-pregnane-3,20-dione; 3ξ,15ξ-dihydroxy-5ξ-pregnan-20-one; 16β, 20β-dihydroxy-5α-pregnan-3-one and 1ξ,3ξ,16ξ-trihydroxy-5ξ-pregnan-20-one. Qualitatively the differences between these steroid profiles of meconium and urine from the corresponding profiles of normal newborns were mainly the following: the absence of 3β-hydroxy-Δ5-steroid excretion in the anencephalic foetus; the presence of 3-oxo-5α(and 5β)-steroids in the urine of the anencephalic foetus. The results of the present investigation are in agreement with the view that during the neonatal period, 3β-hydroxy-Δ5-steroids are mainly synthesized in the foetal adrenal cortex.

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Influence of mesonephros on foetal and neonatal rabbit gonads

Acta Endocrinologica ◽

10.1530/acta.0.0990281 ◽

1982 ◽

Vol 99 (2) ◽

pp. 281-287 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

J. Grinsted

Keyword(s):

Enzymatic Activity ◽

Steroid Hormone ◽

Hormone Release ◽

Ovarian Steroid ◽

Steroid Synthesis ◽

Male And Female ◽

Different Ages ◽

The Media ◽

Steroid Binding

Abstract. To test whether the mesonephros influences the steroid hormone release by the foetal and neonatal ovary, rabbit ovaries were cultured with and without the mesonephros for a period of 5 days. The media were harvested once every day and analyzed by RIA for the content of testosterone, oestradiol and progesterone. Mesonephros produced progesterone only at day 20 pc. At day 21 and 28 pc significant amounts of all three hormones were produced. The media of the co-cultures of ovaries with the mesonephros contained on day 23 and 28 pc less testosterone. On day 23 pc less and on day 3 pp more oestradiol was found in the media of the co-cultures. At day 21 pc progesterone release was increased by the mesonephros. It could be concluded that the mesonephros is able to synthetize steroids and possesses the capacity both to lower and to increase ovarian steroid release in culture. The enhancement of ovarian steroid synthesis in co-cultures with the mesonephros at certain ages might be due either to increased substrate production and/or increased enzymatic activity. The lowering of steroids seen at different ages might be due to mesonephric steroid binding. The mesonephros appeared to influence the male and female rabbits differently at the same ages.

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Quercetin directly promotes rabbit ovarian steroidogenesis

World Rabbit Science ◽

10.4995/wrs.2019.11816 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 27 (3) ◽

pp. 163 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

A.V. Sirotkin ◽

A. Štochmaľová ◽

R. Grossmann ◽

S. Alwasel ◽

A.H. Harrath

Keyword(s):

Enzyme Immunoassay ◽

Steroid Hormone ◽

Direct Action ◽

Biological Effects ◽

Hormone Release ◽

Ovarian Steroidogenesis ◽

Reproductive Processes

<p>The bioflavonoid quercetin is a component of food with numerous biological effects, but its function in reproductive processes remains to be investigated. This study aimed to examine the direct action of quercetin on steroid hormone release in rabbit ovaries. We analysed the effect of quercetin (0, 1, 10, and 100 ng/mL) on cultured rabbit ovarian fragments. The release of progesterone (P4), testosterone (T) and estradiol (E2) were analysed by enzyme immunoassay. Quercetin promoted P4, T, and E2 release by rabbit ovarian fragments. These observations indicate that quercetin can directly stimulate rabbit ovarian steroidogenesis – an essential regulator of reproduction and fecundity. The application of dietary quercetin for control of rabbit reproduction is discussed.</p>

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