title: Effects of heavy metals on corticosteroid production in cultured rat adrenocortical cells.
abstract: Application of 10(-4) M Zn, 10(-5) M Ba, 10(-6) M Se, 10(-6) M Cd, 10(-6) M Hg, and 10(-6) M Mn did not affect the adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH)-induced steroid production in cultured adrenocortical cells. The application of 10(-5) M Pb significantly reduced the ACTH-induced steroid production in cultured cells. However, Pb did not reduce the steroidogenesis induced by dibutyryl cyclic AMP (Dbc-AMP), suggesting that the plasma membrane is the site where Pb interferes with steroid production. The morphological changes induced by the addition of ACTH or Dbc-AMP plus the test metals were similar to those induced by ACTH or Dbc-AMP alone.
mesh_terms: D000302:Adrenal Cortex / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D001464:Barium / Q000494:pharmacology; D003994:Bucladesine / Q000494:pharmacology; D002104:Cadmium / Q000494:pharmacology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D007854:Lead / Q000494:pharmacology; D008345:Manganese / Q000494:pharmacology; D008628:Mercury / Q000494:pharmacology; D008670:Metals / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D012643:Selenium / Q000494:pharmacology; D015032:Zinc / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D008670:Metals; D002104:Cadmium; D001464:Barium; D007854:Lead; D008345:Manganese; D003994:Bucladesine; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D008628:Mercury; D012643:Selenium; D015032:Zinc