title: Effects of beta-lipotropin, beta-endorphin, gamma 2-melanotropin and corticotropin on steroid production by isolated human adrenocortical cells.
abstract: Normal human adrenocortical cells (from multi-organ donors) were incubated with corticotropin (tetracosactide), highly purified human beta-lipotropin, synthetic human beta-lipotropin, gamma 2-melanocyte stimulating hormone and beta-endorphin. Corticotropin stimulated cortisol, aldosterone and 18-hydroxycorticosterone production starting at 10(-12)-10(-11) mol/l in normal adrenocortical cells. Purified human beta-lipotropin also stimulated steroidogenesis but 100-1000-fold higher concentrations of the peptide were needed. In contrast, synthetic human beta-lipotropin was without any effect on steroid production up to concentrations of 10(-7) mol/l. Synthetic beta-lipotropin (5 x 10(-10) mol/l) did not significantly change the dose-response curve for corticotropin (10(-13) mol/l-10(-9) mol/l) versus the three steroids measured. gamma 2-Melanotropin and beta-endorphin (10(-6) mol/l) stimulated the secretion of cortisol, but not of aldosterone. Since synthetic human beta-lipotropin has no effect on human adrenocortical cells, the purified beta-lipotropin must be contaminated with traces of corticotropin. Since pathologically elevated levels of proopiomelanocortin-derived peptides will rarely exceed plasma concentrations of 10(-10) mol/l, our findings in vitro do not support a physiological or pathophysiological role of the peptides examined in the regulation of adrenal steroid secretion.
authors.affiliation: Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik, Abteilung Endokrinologie, Klinikum Steglitz, Freien Universität Berlin.
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Eggens
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Bähr
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Oelkers
authors.forename: C H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D015069:18-Hydroxycorticosterone / Q000096:biosynthesis; D000302:Adrenal Cortex / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D000450:Aldosterone / Q000096:biosynthesis; D003366:Cosyntropin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000096:biosynthesis; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007700:Kinetics; D009074:Melanocyte-Stimulating Hormones / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001615:beta-Endorphin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008083:beta-Lipotropin / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D003366:Cosyntropin; D000450:Aldosterone; D015069:18-Hydroxycorticosterone; D001615:beta-Endorphin; D009074:Melanocyte-Stimulating Hormones; D008083:beta-Lipotropin; D006854:Hydrocortisone