Endocrine Abstracts

I first developed a research interest in the adrenal cortex about 50 years ago. As for many others, these studies gave a detailed insight into several important, though necessarily focused aspects. Teaching endocrinology to undergraduates, it was easy to explain the functions of the gland by following the usual well-trodden paths. Over several years, however, I have come to realize that, despite all that, I still don’t actually know what the adrenal cortex is for. ...

Vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) and Neuropeptide Y (NPY) are well established paracrine regulators of adrenal function. These neuropeptides have recently been immunolocalised to the capsule and zona glomerulosa region of the adrenal cortex, where they play a role in regulating steroidogenesis and adrenal blood flow. Neural mediation of compensatory adrenal growth following unilateral adrenalectomy and stimulation of proliferation and vascular hypertrophy in vascular smooth...

The factors that establish and maintain adrenocortical zonation and proliferation are poorly understood but include the pituitary hormone adrenocorticotrophin (ACTH), angiotensin II and potassium. To examine this capsular gland preparations largely glomerulosa (zg) with some fasciculata (zf), were cultured in vitro in Eagles MEM (3.6mM K+) for 1, 4 and 8 days and exposed these treatments. Rat zona glomerulosa proliferative activity, as judged by the rate of DNA synthesis, was ...