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Effects of Gestation on Enzymes Controlling Aldosterone Synthesis in the Rat Adrenal¹

Research Center, Sainte-Justine’s Hospital (M.B., S.P.), and the Department of Obstetrics-Gynecology, University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada H3T 1C5; and the Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Sherbrooke (J.G.L.), Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada J1H 5N4

Address all correspondence and requests for reprints to: Michèle Brochu, Ph.D., Research Center, Ste-Justine’s Hospital, 3175 Côte Ste-Catherine, Montreal, Quebec, Canada H3T 1C5. address: brochum{at}ere.umontreal.ca

In the present study, the effects of gestation on various enzymes implicated in corticosteroid synthesis were evaluated in adrenal zona glomerulosa and zona fasciculata-reticularis of the Sprague-Dawley rat. The activity and expression of cholesterol side-chain cleavage cytochrome P450, 11ß-hydroxylase cytochrome P450, and aldosterone synthase cytochrome P450 (P450aldo) were analyzed. Plasma aldosterone levels were increased significantly at 22 days gestation (n = 10) and fell below the nonpregnant levels at 18–36 h postpartum (n = 11). The activity and expression of 11ß-hydroxylase cytochrome P450 and cholesterol side-chain cleavage cytochrome P450 were not modified by gestation. P450aldo activity increased at 14 days gestation (n = 4) and returned to the prepregnancy level at 2 weeks postpartum (n = 5). As shown by Northern blot analysis (n = 3), P450aldo messenger RNA increased significantly at 22 days gestation and decreased 18–36 h postpartum. We clearly demonstrated that elevated plasma aldosterone levels during pregnancy are associated with augmented activity and messenger RNA levels of P450aldo in the zona glomerulosa.