Streptozotocin-induced experimental diabetes causes a time-dependent inhibition of growth and steroidogenic capacity of rat adrenal zona glomerulosa.
The effects of streptozotocin-induced experimental diabetes on the morphology and secretory activity of the zona glomerulosa were studied in rats whose hypothalamo-hypophyseal-adrenal axes and renin-angiotensin systems had been pharmacologically interrupted by the simultaneous administration of dexamethasone-captopril and maintenance doses of ACTH-angiotensin II. The animals were examined 7, 14, 21, and 28 days after diabetes induction, which was evidenced by conspicuous hyperglycemia. Experimental diabetes caused notable atrophy of the zona glomerulosa and its cells, along with a significant decrease in both basal and angiotensin II-stimulated plasma aldosterone concentration. There was a positive linear correlation between all these changes and the number of days elapsed after streptozotocin administration. These data indicate that experimental diabetes exerts a profound time-dependent direct inhibition of rat zona glomerulosa. The hypothesis is advanced that the chronic lack of insulin that occurs in rats treated with streptozotocin, may depress de novo synthesis of structural and enzymatic proteins in zona glomerulosa cells and reduce their growth and steroidogenic machinery.
Rebuffat
P
P
Department of Anatomy, University of Padua, Italy.
Malendowicz
L K
LK
Mazzocchi
G
G
Gottardo
G
G
Nussdorfer
G G
GG
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000494:pharmacology; D000450:Aldosterone / Q000096:biosynthesis; D000804:Angiotensin II / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D002216:Captopril / Q000494:pharmacology; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000473:pathology; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000494:pharmacology; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004721:Endoplasmic Reticulum / Q000473:pathology; D007700:Kinetics; D008297:Male; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000473:pathology; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D015384:Zona Glomerulosa / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D000804:Angiotensin II; D000450:Aldosterone; D003907:Dexamethasone; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D002216:Captopril