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Comparison of ACTH and corticotropin-releasing hormone effects on rat adrenal steriodogenesis in vitro

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Research in Experimental Medicine

Summary

The effects of equimolar concentrations (10−9 M) of ACTH and corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) on the secretory activity of zona glomerulosa (ZG) and zonae fasciculata and reticularis (ZF/ZR) of rat adrenals were investigated in vitro by high-pressure liquid chromatography. ACTH enhanced the output of all the post-progesterone steroids (11-deoxycorticosterone, 18-hydroxy-11-deoxycorticosterone, corticosterone, 18-hydroxycorticosterone, and aldosterone) both by isolated ZG or ZF/ZR cells and by adrenal slices. CRH raised the secretory activity exclusively of adrenal slices, and its effect was less than half that of ACTH. However, the extents to which the various post-progesterone hormones contributed to the ACTH- or CRH-induced rises in the overall adrenal secretory activity were similar. The hypothesis is discussed that CRH acts on the rat adrenal gland by eliciting a local production of ACTH.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Anatomy, University of Padua, I-35121, Padua, Italy

    G. Neri, P. G. Andreis & G. G. Nussdorfer

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  1. G. Neri
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  2. P. G. Andreis
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  3. G. G. Nussdorfer
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Neri, G., Andreis, P.G. & Nussdorfer, G.G. Comparison of ACTH and corticotropin-releasing hormone effects on rat adrenal steriodogenesis in vitro. Res. Exp. Med. 191, 291–295 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02576685

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02576685

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