Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Fatty acid composition of the sterol ester fraction of human adrenal cortex in Cushing's syndrome and after treatment with aminoglutethimide

  • Published:
Lipids

Abstract

The lipid that accumulated in the adrenal cortex of a patient who had been treated with aminoglutethimide has been compared with the lipid in normal human adrenal cortex and identified as esters of cholesterol with fatty acids. While the concentration of free cholesterol was normal, that of esterified cholesterol was three times greater than that in normal controls. Sterols were analyzed by gas chromatography and found to consist almost wholly of cholesterol. The fatty acid composition of the cholesterol esters in adrenal cortex from patients with abnormal steroid secretion rates was determined. An increased proportion of cholesteryl arachidonate (cholesteryl-3β-[allcis]-eicosa-5,8,11,14-tetraenoate) was found in adrenal cortex from patients with decreased steroid secretion rates and a decreased proportion in adrenal cortex from patients with steroid secretion rates raised sufficiently to cause Cushing's Syndrome.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Dexter, R.N., L.M. Fishman, R.L. Ney and G.W. Liddle, J. Clin. Endocrinol. 27:473 (1967).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Fishman, L.M., G.W. Liddle, D.P. Island, N. Fleischer and O. Kuchel, Ibid. 27:481 (1967).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Cash, R., A.J. Brough, M.N.P. Cohen and P.S. Satoh, Ibid. 27:1239 (1967).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Wilroy, R.S., A.M. Camacho, R.L. Trouy and A.A. Hagen, Endocrinology 83:56 (1968).

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Cohen, M.P., Proc. Soc. Exp. Biol. Med., N.Y. 127:1086 (1968).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Kowal, J., Endocrinology 85:270 (1969).

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Kahnt, F.W., and R. Neher, Helv. Chim. Acta 49:725 (1966).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Prader, A., and H.P. Gurtner, Helv. Paediat. Acta 10:397 (1955).

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Zarrow, M.X., and J.H. Clark, Endocrinology 84:340 (1969).

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Wilks, J.W., G.B. Fuller, and W. Hansel, Ibid. 87:581 (1970).

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Gidez, L.I., Biochem. Biophys. Res. Comm. 14:413 (1964).

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Gidez, L.I., and E. Feller, J. Lipid Res. 10:656 (1969).

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Davis, J.T., R.B. Bridges and H.G. Coniglio, Biochem. J. 98:342 (1966).

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Nakamura, M., B. Jensen and O.S. Privett, Endocrinology 82:137 (1968).

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Landon, J., and F.C. Greenwood, Lancet 1:273 (1968).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Symington, T., “Functional Pathology of the Human Adrenal Gland,” E. & S. Livingston, Edinburgh 1969, p. 111.

    Google Scholar 

  17. Ott, A.C., M.F. Murray and R.L. Pederson, J. Amer. Chem. Soc. 74:1239 (1952).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Petrow, V., and K.A. Stuart-Webb, J. Chem. Soc. 4675 (1956).

  19. Mann, G.V., Clin. Chem. 7:275 (1961).

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Brooks, C.J.W., and J. Watson, J. Chromatogr. 31:396 (1967).

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Engel, L.L., and J.C. Orr, in “Biochemical Applications of Mass Spectrometry,” Edited by G.R. Waller, John Wiley and Sons, New York, 1972, p. 537.

    Google Scholar 

  22. Burstein, S., and M. Gut, Steroids 14:207 (1969).

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Burstein, S., H. Zamoscianyk, H.L. Kimball, N.K. Chaudhuri and M. Gut, Ibid. 15:13 (1970).

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Burstein, S., H.L. Kimball and M. Gut, Ibid. 15:809 (1970).

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Roberts, K.D., L. Bandy and S. Lieberman, Biochem. 8:1259 (1969).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Simpson, E.R., and G.S. Boyd, Eu. J. Biochem. 2:275 (1967).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Hall, P.F., and S.B. Koritz, Biochim. Biophys. Acta 93:441 (1964).

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Riley, C., Biochem. J. 87:500 (1963).

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Griffiths, K.D., J.K. Grant and T. Symington, J. Clin. Endocrinol. 23:776 (1963).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Goodman, D.S., Physiol. Rev. 45:747 (1965).

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. Davis, W.W., and L.D. Garren, Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 24:805 (1966).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. Kritchevsky, D., in “Cholesterol,” John Wiley and Sons, Inc., New York, 1958, p. 104.

    Google Scholar 

  33. Shyamala, G., W.J. Lossow and I.L. Chaikoff, Proc. Soc. Exp. Biol. Med., N.Y. 118:138 (1965).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  34. Doering, C.H., S. Kessler and R.B. Clayton, Science, N.Y. 170:1220 (1970).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  35. H.L. Moses, W.W. Davis, A.S. Rosenthal and L.D. Garren, Ibid. 163:1203 (1969).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  36. Takayasu, K., K. Okuda and I. Yoshikawa, Lipids 5:743 (1970).

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  37. Walker, B.L., and J.A. Carney, Ibid. 6:797 (1971).

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  38. Angg⇘rd, E., and B. Samuelsson, J. Biol. Chem. 240:3518 (1965).

    Google Scholar 

  39. Shaw, J.E., and P.W. Ramwell, in “Prostaglandins,” Edited by S. Bergström and B. Samuelson, Almqvist and Wiksell, Stockholm, Interscience Publishers, New York, 1967, p. 293.

    Google Scholar 

  40. Flack, J.D., R. Jessup and P.W. Ramwell, Science, N.Y. 163:691 (1969).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  41. Behrman, H.R., G.J. MacDonald and R.O. Greep, Lipids 6:791 (1971).

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Author notes

  1. P. R. Raggatt (McGhie Cancer Research Scholar, Glasgow Royal Infirmary (1967–1969)

    Present address: Westminster Hospital, SW1, London

  2. Lewis L. Engel (Macfarlane Professor of Experimental Medicine, Glasgow University 1967–68; American Cancer Society Professor of Biological Chemistry)

    Present address: Harvard Medical School, Harvard, USA

  3. T. Symington

    Present address: Chester Beatty Research Institute, SW3, London

Authors and Affiliations

  1. The John Collins Warren Laboratories of the Collis P. Huntington Memorial Hospital of Harvard University at the Massachusetts General Hospital, 02114, Boston, Massachusetts

    P. R. Raggatt (McGhie Cancer Research Scholar, Glasgow Royal Infirmary (1967–1969), Lewis L. Engel (Macfarlane Professor of Experimental Medicine, Glasgow University 1967–68; American Cancer Society Professor of Biological Chemistry) & T. Symington

  2. Department of Biological Chemistry, Harvard Medical School, 02114, Boston, Massachusetts

    P. R. Raggatt (McGhie Cancer Research Scholar, Glasgow Royal Infirmary (1967–1969), Lewis L. Engel (Macfarlane Professor of Experimental Medicine, Glasgow University 1967–68; American Cancer Society Professor of Biological Chemistry) & T. Symington

  3. Department of Pathology (Glasgow Royal Infirmary), University of Glasgow, C4, Glasgow, Scotland

    P. R. Raggatt (McGhie Cancer Research Scholar, Glasgow Royal Infirmary (1967–1969), Lewis L. Engel (Macfarlane Professor of Experimental Medicine, Glasgow University 1967–68; American Cancer Society Professor of Biological Chemistry) & T. Symington

Authors
  1. P. R. Raggatt
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Lewis L. Engel
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. T. Symington
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

Publication no. 1429 of the Cancer Commission of Harvard University.

About this article

Cite this article

Raggatt, P.R., Engel, L.L. & Symington, T. Fatty acid composition of the sterol ester fraction of human adrenal cortex in Cushing's syndrome and after treatment with aminoglutethimide. Lipids 7, 474–482 (1972). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02533164

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02533164

Keywords

Search

Navigation