title: Effects of prolonged treatment with adrenocorticotropin on the morphology and function of rat adrenocortical autotransplants.
abstract: Regenerated adrenocortical nodules were obtained by implanting in the musculus gracilis of rats fragments of the capsular tissue of their excised adrenal glands. Five months after operation, transplanted rats showed a slightly elevated blood concentration of adrenocorticotropin (ACTH), a moderately reduced plasma level of corticosterone (PBC) and a very low concentration of circulating aldosterone (PAC). Regenerated nodules were well encapsulated, and from the connective capsule some septa dipped into the parenchyma. Subcapsular-outer (OZ) and inner (IZ) cells were similar to those of the zona fasciculata/zona reticularis (ZF/ZR) of the normal gland; juxta-septal (JZ) cells resembled those of the zona glomerulosa (ZG). Prolonged (14 days) ACTH infusion normalized PBC and caused a conspicuous hypertrophy of transplanted tissue, which was coupled with a marked hypertrophy of ZF/ZR-like OZ and IZ cells and a notable rise in the basal in vitro production of corticosterone. Conversely, ACTH infusion strikingly lowered PAC, reduced the number of ZG-like JZ cells, and decreased both basal and stimulated secretion of 18-hydroxylated steroids by transplants in vitro.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, University of Padua, Italy.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rebuffat
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Neri
authors.forename: P G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Andreis
authors.forename: A S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Belloni
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mazzocchi
authors.forename: F G
authors.initials: FG
authors.lastname: Musajo
authors.forename: G G
authors.initials: GG
authors.lastname: Nussdorfer
mesh_terms: D000302:Adrenal Cortex / Q000187:drug effects / Q000637:transplantation* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000450:Aldosterone / Q000097:blood; D000818:Animals; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D003345:Corticosterone / Q000097:blood; D006984:Hypertrophy; D008297:Male; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D051381:Rats; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous; D016042:Transplantation, Heterotopic; D015384:Zona Glomerulosa / Q000637:transplantation
chemical_list: D000450:Aldosterone; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D003345:Corticosterone