title: Ontogeny of 3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase/delta 5-delta 4 isomerase (3 beta-HSD) in human adrenal gland performed by immunocytochemistry.
abstract: Human foetal adrenal plays a major role in the synthesis and secretion of steroids which are essential to several physiological events during foetal development. Since 3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 5-ene-4-ene isomerase (3 beta-HSD) is involved in the biosynthesis of all classes of hormonal steroids, namely progesterone, glucocorticoids, mineralocorticoids, androgens and estrogens, knowledge of the ontogeny of 3 beta-HSD should lead to a better understanding of steroidogenesis in the foetal adrenal. Polyclonal antibodies raised against purified human placental 3 beta-HSD were used to localize the enzyme in 22-week, 28-week, and term foetal adrenals as well as in the adrenals of 2-month-, 8-month- and 2-year-old infants. 3 beta-HSD has been identified in the outer cortex, neocortex and zona glomerulosa zone of foetal adrenal, respectively. In 2-month- and 8-month-old infant adrenals, the enzyme was localized in the zona glomerulosa and zone fasciculata while in 2-year-old infants, the immunoreaction was observed also in the zona reticularis, the medulla being devoid of any reaction.
authors.affiliation: MRC Group in Molecular Endocrinology, CHUL Research Center, Quebec, Canada.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Dupont
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Luu-The
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Labrie
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pelletier
mesh_terms: D000311:Adrenal Glands / Q000196:embryology / Q000201:enzymology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007223:Infant; D009097:Multienzyme Complexes / Q000378:metabolism*; D011375:Progesterone Reductase / Q000378:metabolism*; D013251:Steroid Isomerases / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: C021425:3 beta-hydroxysteroid oxidoreductase-delta(5) 3-ketosteroid isomerase; D009097:Multienzyme Complexes; D011375:Progesterone Reductase; D013251:Steroid Isomerases