Effect of aminoglutethimide on the structure and function of rat adrenals.
The effects of aminoglutethimide (AG) on adrenal ultrastructure, cholesterol accumulation, and steroidogenesis were studied in rats. AG was capable of altering the fine structure of the adrenocortical cells. In rats treated with this drug, adrenal mitochondria were polymorphic and their cristae were elongated and frequently showed unusual arrangement. These organelles tended to surround the lipid droplets and were often found to be gigantic in size. AG was also able to block the cholesterol side chain cleavage (CSCC) enzyme system, cause an accumulation of cholesterol in the adrenal gland, and cause decrease in serum testosterone concentration. When AG was administered along with adrenal-corticotropic hormone (ACTH), the effects were more apparent. However, there was no difference in serum testosterone concentration between animals treated with AG in the absence or presence of ACTH. ACTH can significantly increase in serum testosterone in castrated rats, suggesting that the low level of testosterone in operated animals causes a reflex rise in luteinizing hormone (LH) which interacts with ACTH to enhance the adrenal androgen secretion.
D000311:Adrenal Glands / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000378:metabolism; D000616:Aminoglutethimide / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D002369:Castration; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism
D000616:Aminoglutethimide; D013739:Testosterone; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D002784:Cholesterol