Control of oestrogen production in human pregnancy: effect of trophic hormones on steroid biosynthesis by the foetal adrenal gland in vitro.
[14C]Acetate was incorporated into dehydroepiandrosterone, pregnenolone and their sulphates and into cholesterol during incubations of adrenal tissue from three human foetuses of 10-18 weeks of gestation. No incorporation of [14C]acetate into cortisol or other 4-en-3-oxo steroids could be demonstrated. Porcine ACTH stimulated the incorporation of [14C]acetate into both dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate and cholesterol when added to incubations of adrenal tissue from foetuses of 18 weeks gestation. Such an effect was not observed with tissue from a 10-week-old foetus. Stimulation of steroid biosynthesis from [14C]acetate was also achieved by addition of human growth hormone chorionic somato-mammotrophin. These trophic hormones may therefore play some part in regulating the provision of precursors for oestrogen biosynthesis in pregnancy.
D000311:Adrenal Glands / Q000196:embryology* / Q000378:metabolism; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000494:pharmacology; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000096:biosynthesis; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000494:pharmacology; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone / Q000096:biosynthesis; D005260:Female; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D010908:Pituitary Hormones, Anterior / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010928:Placental Lactogen / Q000494:pharmacology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011284:Pregnenolone / Q000096:biosynthesis; D013256:Steroids / Q000096:biosynthesis*
D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin; D010908:Pituitary Hormones, Anterior; D013256:Steroids; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone; D011284:Pregnenolone; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D013006:Growth Hormone; D010928:Placental Lactogen; D002784:Cholesterol