Production and secretion of C-19 steroids by rat and guinea pig adrenals.
The concentrations of C-19 steroids were measured in guinea pig and rat adrenals before and after castration as well as after stimulation with adrenocorticotropin hormone (ACTH). Characterization of adrenal C-19 steroids was also carried out by isolation with high-performance liquid chromatography and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). From radioimmunoassay (RIA) data, androstenedione (4-DIONE) and 11 beta hydroxyandrostenedione (11 beta-DIONE) were the major C-19 steroids found in guinea pig adrenals, and castration induced a decrease of 4-DIONE levels only while all other C-19 steroids remained unchanged. In rat adrenals, the major C-19 steroids were 4-DIONE and testosterone, and they were also markedly inhibited after castration. With the exception of 11 beta-DIONE, all other C-19 steroids in circulation were eliminated after castration in both animals species. After ACTH administration in the guinea pig, adrenal 4-DIONE and 11 beta-DIONE levels were markedly stimulated, while an increase of only 11 beta-DIONE was observed in plasma. In the rat, ACTH had a small stimulatory effect on adrenal 52-androstane-3 alpha, 17 beta-diol (3 alpha-DIOL) and plasma 11 beta-DIONE levels. Analysis of guinea pig adrenal steroids by GC/MS confirmed the presence of C-19 steroids in adrenals (namely, 4-DIONE and 11 beta-DIONE) while, in the rat, this could not be confirmed. Our data indicate that production of C-19 steroids occurs in guinea pig adrenals, and 11 beta-DIONE is the major C-19 steroid as well as the only C-19 steroid secreted into the circulation. In the rat, the production of C-19 steroids detected by RIA is not supported by GC/MS data.
Bélanger
B
B
Laboratory of Molecular Endocrinology, CHUL Research Center, Quebec, Canada.
Couture
J
J
Caron
S
S
Bodou
P
P
Fiet
J
J
Bélanger
A
A
D000311:Adrenal Glands / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000494:pharmacology; D000728:Androgens / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000378:metabolism; D015113:Androstane-3,17-diol / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism; D000735:Androstenedione / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D008297:Male; D009919:Orchiectomy; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D013045:Species Specificity
D000728:Androgens; D015113:Androstane-3,17-diol; D000735:Androstenedione; C003582:11-hydroxyandrostenedione; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone