Endocrine Abstracts

The human adrenal H295R cell line expresses ACTH receptors (MC2R). However, it is generally accepted that ACTH treatment of these cells has little effect on steroid secretion and so forskolin is routinely used to mimic the actions of ACTH. It is unclear whether the ACTH receptors on these cells are functional. The present study was designed to investigate signalling pathways in H295R cells and their activation by ACTH.Adrenal H295R cells were cultured in...

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 ...

(Will also be presented as a Steroids poster)Alpha-melanocyte-stimulating-hormone (alpha-MSH) is an agonist at the melanocortin-3-receptor (MC3-R) and the MC4-R. It stimulates corticosterone release from rat adrenal glomerulosa cells. The receptor mediating this effect is unidentified since only MC2-R and MC5-R have been reported to be expressed in the adrenal and alpha-MSH is a poor agonist at these receptors. Agrp, an endogenous antagonist at the MC3-R...