Impaired corticosteroid production by isolated adrenocortical cells of hypercholesterolemic rabbits.
Changes in the structure and function of rabbit adrenocortical cells were studied eight weeks after cessation of a cholesterol-enriched diet. The plasma cholesterol level of the treated animals was still modestly elevated. All three zones of the adrenal cortex contained a slightly increased number of intracellular lipid droplets, and greater number of lipid-laden macrophages were located in the inner layers, as revealed by light and electron microscopy. The basal and ACTH-stimulated hormone production by the isolated adrenocortical cells were significantly inhibited compared with those of the controls. A possible causal relationship between the inhibited adrenocortical hormone production and the increased number of macrophages is discussed.
Tóth
I E
IE
Institute of Experimental Medicine, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Budapest.
Szabó
D
D
Szalay
K S
KS
Hesz
A
A
D000302:Adrenal Cortex / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000378:metabolism*; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D011817:Rabbits
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone