Endocrinology, Vol 108, 1769-1779, Copyright © 1981 by Endocrine Society

ARTICLES

Regulation of the fetal human adrenal cortex: effects of adrenocorticotropin on growth and function of monolayer cultures of fetal and definitive zone cells

MH Simonian and GN Gill

Monolayer cultures have been prepared from both definitive and fetal zones of the human fetal adrenal cortex. Cultures from each zone consist predominately of adrenocortical cells, as determined by a specific morphological retraction response to ACTH, and by ACTH-induced inhibition of DNA synthesis and cell proliferation. Cell growth was stimulated by fibroblast growth factor. ACTH stimulated steroidogenesis in cells from each zone with an ED50 of 0.4--1.0 nM and at a maximal concentration of 5 nM. Short term stimulation of less than 24 h with ACTH produced a pattern of steroid secretion that was characteristic of the zone of origin. Definitive zone cultures produced both cortisol and dehydroepiandrosterone plus its sulfate (DHA/S), with cortisol production exceeding DHA/S production. Fetal zone cultures produced more DHA/S than cortisol. 3 beta-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase, delta 4,5-isomerase enzyme activity was 3-fold less in fetal than in definitive zone cultures. Long term stimulation of 1--4 days with ACTH, 8-bromo-cAMP, or cholera toxin increased steroidogenic capacity in cultures from both zones. The pattern of steroid production by definitive zone cells remained constant, but cortisol production was preferentially increased in fetal zone cells. Forty-eight-hour treatment of fetal zone cells with ACTH increased 3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase, delta 4,5-isomerase activity 5-fold. alpha-, beta-, gamma 1-, gamma 2-, and gamma 3-MSH were not effective steroidogenic agents for either zone. These studies indicate that steroidogenic agents induce in fetal zone cells steroid production characteristic of definitive and adult adrenocortical cells.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				A. Dumitrescu, G. W Aberdeen, G. J Pepe, and E. D Albrecht Developmental expression of cell cycle regulators in the baboon fetal adrenal gland J. Endocrinol., January 1, 2007; 192(1): 237 - 247. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				O. Zwermann, D. M Schulte, M. Reincke, and F. Beuschlein ACTH 1-24 inhibits proliferation of adrenocortical tumors in vivo Eur. J. Endocrinol., September 1, 2005; 153(3): 435 - 444. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				E. D. Albrecht, G. W. Aberdeen, and G. J. Pepe Estrogen Elicits Cortical Zone-Specific Effects on Development of the Primate Fetal Adrenal Gland Endocrinology, April 1, 2005; 146(4): 1737 - 1744. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. Ratcliffe, M. Nakanishi, and R. B. Jaffe Identification of Definitive and Fetal Zone Markers in the Human Fetal Adrenal Gland Reveals Putative Developmental Genes J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., July 1, 2003; 88(7): 3272 - 3277. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				G. W. Aberdeen, M. G. Leavitt, G. J. Pepe, and E. D. Albrecht Effect of Maternal Betamethasone Administration at Midgestation on Baboon Fetal Adrenal Gland Development and Adrenocorticotropin Receptor Messenger Ribonucleic Acid Expression J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., March 1, 1998; 83(3): 976 - 982. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				S. Mesiano and R. B. Jaffe Developmental and Functional Biology of the Primate Fetal Adrenal Cortex Endocr. Rev., June 1, 1997; 18(3): 378 - 403. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				G. W. Aberdeen, J. S. Babischkin, W. A. Davies, G. J. Pepe, and E. D. Albrecht Decline in Adrenocorticotropin Receptor Messenger Ribonucleic Acid Expression in the Baboon Fetal Adrenocortical Zone in the Second Half of Pregnancy Endocrinology, April 1, 1997; 138(4): 1634 - 1641. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]