title: Glucocorticoid induction of the maturation of ovine fetal adrenocortical cells.
abstract: The aim of the present study was to assess whether glucocorticoids could be directly involved in the maturation of adrenocortical cells from 120-138 days old ovine fetuses. The cAMP response to ACTH1-24 of cells cultured for 24 hours in the presence of ACTH1-24 was 2 fold higher than that of control cells. However, the response of cells cultured in the presence of ACTH1-24 plus metyrapone or aminoglutethimide was lower than that of cells cultured in the presence of ACTH1-24 alone. Cells cultured for 48 hours in the presence of dexamethasone or cortisol released more cAMP than control cells when stimulated by ACTH1-24, but not in response to forskolin. However corticosteroid production stimulated by ACTH1-24, forskolin or dibutyryl cAMP was enhanced by dexamethasone treatment. These results suggest that glucocorticoids can affect the maturation of ovine fetal adrenocortical cells by an auto and/or a paracrine process, and that this effect is exerted, at least, at two different levels in the cell.
mesh_terms: D000302:Adrenal Cortex / Q000187:drug effects / Q000196:embryology* / Q000378:metabolism; D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000616:Aminoglutethimide / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D003994:Bucladesine / Q000494:pharmacology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005576:Colforsin / Q000494:pharmacology; D003366:Cosyntropin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000242:Cyclic AMP / Q000378:metabolism*; D005333:Fetus; D007700:Kinetics; D008797:Metyrapone / Q000494:pharmacology; D012756:Sheep
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D000616:Aminoglutethimide; D003366:Cosyntropin; D005576:Colforsin; D003994:Bucladesine; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D000242:Cyclic AMP; D008797:Metyrapone