The Sensitivity of the Fetal Rat Adrenal Gland to Adrenocorticotropic Hormone in vivo and in vitro

Neonatology ◽  
1986 ◽  
Vol 50 (1) ◽  
pp. 48-54 ◽  
Author(s):  
Masako Yamamoto ◽  
Kazuyoshi Arishima ◽  
Yasunobu Eguchi

2011 ◽  
Vol 46 (3) ◽  
pp. 227-232 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rebecca J Gorrigan ◽  
Leonardo Guasti ◽  
Peter King ◽  
Adrian J Clark ◽  
Li F Chan

The melanocortin-2-receptor (MC2R)/MC2R accessory protein (MRAP) complex is critical to the production of glucocorticoids from the adrenal cortex. Inactivating mutations in either MC2R or MRAP result in the clinical condition familial glucocorticoid deficiency. The localisation of MC2R together with MRAP within the adrenal gland has not previously been reported. Furthermore, MRAP2, a paralogue of MRAP, has been shown in vitro to have a similar function to MRAP, facilitating MC2R trafficking and responsiveness to ACTH. Despite similar MC2R accessory functions, in vivo, patients with inactivating mutations of MRAP fail to be rescued by a functioning MRAP2 gene, suggesting differences in adrenal expression, localisation and/or function between the two MRAPs. In this study on the rat adrenal gland, we demonstrate that while MRAP and MC2R are highly expressed in the zona fasciculata, MRAP2 is expressed throughout the adrenal cortex in low quantities. In the developing adrenal gland, both MRAP and MRAP2 are equally well expressed. The MC2R/MRAP2 complex requires much higher concentrations of ACTH to activate compared with the MC2R/MRAP complex. Interestingly, expression of MC2R and MRAP in the undifferentiated zone would support the notion that ACTH may play an important role in adrenal cell differentiation and maintenance.



2017 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 339-346 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Wrońska ◽  
B.F. Kania ◽  
M. Błachuta

Abstract Stress causes the activation of both the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical axis and sympatho-adrenal system, thus leading to the release from the adrenal medulla of catecholamines: adrenaline and, to a lesser degree, noradrenaline. It has been established that in addition to catecholamines, the adrenomedullary cells produce a variety of neuropeptides, including corticoliberine (CRH), vasopressin (AVP), oxytocin (OXY) and proopiomelanocortine (POMC) – a precursor of the adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH). The aim of this study was to investigate adrenal medulla activity in vitro depending, on a dose of CRH, AVP and OXY on adrenaline and noradrenaline release. Pieces of sheep adrenal medulla tissue (about 50 mg) were put on 24-well plates and were incubated in 1 mL of Eagle medium without hormone (control) or supplemented only once with CRH, AVP and OXY in three doses (10−7, 10−8 and 10−9 M) in a volume of 10 μL. The results showed that CRH stimulates adrenaline and noradrenaline release from the adrenal medulla tissue. The stimulating influence of AVP on adrenaline release was visible after the application of the two lower doses of this neuropeptide; however, AVP reduced noradrenaline release from the adrenal medulla tissue. A strong, inhibitory OXY effect on catecholamine release was observed, regardless of the dose of this hormone. Our results indicate the important role of OXY in the inhibition of adrenal gland activity and thus a better adaptation to stress on the adrenal gland level.



1998 ◽  
Vol 275 (2) ◽  
pp. R357-R362 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kirsten R. Poore ◽  
I. Ross Young ◽  
Benedict J. Canny ◽  
Geoffrey D. Thorburn

Maturation of the fetal adrenal gland is critical for the onset of ovine parturition. It has long been proposed that the fetal adrenal gland may be under inhibitory influences during late gestation. In vitro evidence has suggested that angiotensin II may be such an inhibitory factor and may help to prevent a premature increase in cortisol concentrations. The aim of this study was to test the effect of angiotensin II infusion in vivo on basal cortisol concentrations and fetal adrenal responsiveness to an ACTH-(1—24) challenge. Fetuses received a continuous infusion of either angiotensin II (100 ng ⋅ min−1 ⋅ kg−1; n = 7) or saline (2 ml/h; n = 4), which commenced at 140 days of gestation (GA) and continued for a total of 50 h. Adrenal responsiveness to the administration of ACTH-(1—24) (5 μg/kg) was determined during angiotensin II or saline infusions at both 2 and 48 h after infusion onset. Angiotensin II had no significant effect on adrenal responsiveness after acute (2 h) or chronic (48 h) infusion. There was no effect of saline or angiotensin II infusion on basal immunoreactive ACTH or cortisol concentrations after 2 h, but there was a significant increase in basal cortisol concentrations in both treatment groups by 48 h, probably reflecting the normal rise in cortisol concentrations at this GA. Mean arterial blood pressure was significantly increased in angiotensin II-infused fetuses only. This study has therefore found no evidence to suggest that angiotensin II infusion in vivo modulates fetal basal cortisol concentrations or adrenal responsiveness in the last week of gestation, in contrast with previous in vitro studies. These results throw into question the proposed role of angiotensin II as a negative modulator of adrenal function in the ovine fetus.



1990 ◽  
Vol 259 (5) ◽  
pp. E601-E613 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. P. Widmaier

Glucoprivation represents a model stress in which activation of different stress responses at different ages can be monitored both in vivo and in vitro. Physiological data indicate rat brain contains a liver/pancreas-type glucose sensor, yet no biochemical or immunocytochemical evidence exists for such a sensor. Young rats appear to lack normal hypothalamic glucose-sensing ability and do not show typical secretory patterns of corticotropin-releasing factor, adrenocorticotropic hormone, or corticosterone after experimentally induced glucoprivation. However, they hypersecrete catecholamines and glucagon (compared with adults) and thrive on fuel sources other than glucose that are abundant after birth. High steroid levels during the first 24 h after birth may be critical for inducing gluconeogenic enzymes and promoting differentiation of tissues like pancreas. Neonatal rats also have unique control systems to combat the damaging effects of other stresses like hypoxia; these systems may disappear in adults. Thus the definition of stress may change during development, and the compensatory mechanisms employed to combat stress change from neonatal to adult life and are intricately related to the metabolic needs of the animal.



1982 ◽  
Vol 92 (2) ◽  
pp. 205-212 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. SINGH-ASA ◽  
G. JENKIN ◽  
G. D. THORBURN

The effectiveness of trilostane and azastene as inhibitors of adrenal steroidogenesis was compared by in-vitro and in-vivo methods. A radioimmunoassay was developed for the measurement of cortisol in ovine plasma, incubation medium and tissue extract using a specific antiserum raised against cortisol 21-acetate,3-carboxymethyloxime : bovine serum albu Trilostane (20 μmol/l) decreased cortisol synthesis and release both in unstimulated and in ACTH-stimulated adrenal tissues in vitro. The same concentration of azastene had a lesser effect on unstimulated adrenals and was completely ineffective in blocking the stimulatory action of ACTH. In vivo, trilostane suppressed adrenal steroidogenesis in pregnant and cyclic ewes but the suppression in pregnant ewes was over a longer period, and after lower doses. It is concluded that trilostane had an inhibitory effect on ovine adrenal steroidogenesis both in vitro and in vivo.



1965 ◽  
Vol 43 (9) ◽  
pp. 1489-1498 ◽  
Author(s):  
Edward E. Nishizawa ◽  
R. B. Billiar ◽  
J. Karr ◽  
Kristen B. Eik-Nes

Adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) labeled with tritium has been prepared with a specific radioactivity of approximately 4000 d.p.m./μg. The tritiated trophin showed biological activity and appeared to be bound to the cells of the adrenal gland. Data indicating that the adrenal cortex can inactivate ACTH were obtained; whether such inactivation is due to binding or enzymatic degradation has not been illustrated. Attempts to demonstrate that the adrenal gland could acetylate the N-terminal serine residue of ACTH failed.



1960 ◽  
Vol 38 (1) ◽  
pp. 1069-1075
Author(s):  
O. J. Lucis ◽  
E. H. Venning

Porcine, monkey, and human growth hormone have no effect on the in vitro secretion of aldosterone by the rat adrenal gland. When monkey growth hormone is injected into hypophysectomized rats, the adrenals of these animals secrete, under in vitro conditions, increased amounts of aldosterone with no change in the secretion rate of corticosterone. The plasma of these rats contains a substance which appears to stimulate the secretion of aldosterone in the adrenals of normal rats.



1986 ◽  
Vol 251 (1) ◽  
pp. E86-E91 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. T. Bihoreau ◽  
A. Ktorza ◽  
A. Kervran ◽  
L. Picon

The effects of gestational hyperglycemia on B-cell function were studied in near-term fetuses from unrestrained pregnant rats made slightly or highly hyperglycemic using continuous glucose infusion during the last week of pregnancy. Pancreatic and plasma insulin and insulin secretion in vitro were studied in the fetuses. Compared with controls, slightly hyperglycemic fetuses showed increased pancreatic and plasma insulin concentrations and similar insulin release in response to glucose in vitro. In highly hyperglycemic fetuses, pancreatic and plasma insulin concentrations were unchanged compared with controls, and insulin release in vitro was insensitive to glucose and to the mixture glucose plus theophylline. These results confirm that glucose is able to stimulate insulin secretion in normal or slightly hyperglycemic fetuses and suggest that severe hyperglycemia per se, without association of other metabolic disorders or toxic injuries, profoundly alters the stimulus-secretion coupling of the fetal rat B-cell.



Neuropeptides ◽  
2000 ◽  
Vol 34 (1) ◽  
pp. 7-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Albertin ◽  
L.K. Malendowicz ◽  
C. Macchi ◽  
A. Markowska ◽  
G.G. Nussdorfer


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document