title: Effect of ascorbic acid on ACTH-induced cyclic AMP formation and steroidogenesis in isolated adrenal cells of vitamin E-deficient rats.
abstract: Isolated adrenal cells from Vitamin E-deficient and control rats were prepared by a trypsin digestion method. Cyclic adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate (cyclic AMP) formation was studied in response to adrenocorticotropin (ACTH) in the presence and absence of ascorbate by measuring the conversion of prelabeled adenosine 5'-triphosphate [14C]ATP to cyclic [14C]AMP. Ascorbate (0.5 mM) inhibited ACTH-induced cyclic [14C]AMP formation in adrenal cells isolated from Vitamin E-deficient rats but had no effect in the control cells. The inhibitory effect of ascorbate on ACTH-induced cyclic AMP formation in Vitamin E-deficient rats decreased as the concentration of ACTH increased. In Vitamin E-deficient rats ascorbate inhibited ACTH-induced cyclic [14C]AMP formation after 30 min of incubation. There was no further significant accumulation of cyclic [14C]AMP at 60 min or 120 min although in the absence of ascorbate cyclic [14C]AMP continued to be formed. The in vitro addition of alpha-tocopherol reduced the inhibition of ACTH-induced cyclic [14C]AMP formation by ascorbate in Vitamin E-deficient rats. These studies suggest that alpha-tocopherol and ascorbate may affect ACTH-induced cyclic AMP formation through interaction with the membrane-bound enzyme adenylate cyclase.
mesh_terms: D000311:Adrenal Glands / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000242:Cyclic AMP / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D013256:Steroids / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000494:pharmacology; D014811:Vitamin E Deficiency / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D013256:Steroids; D014810:Vitamin E; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D000242:Cyclic AMP; D001205:Ascorbic Acid