title: In vivo effects of adrenocorticotropin on c-jun, jun-B, c-fos and fos-B in rat adrenal.
abstract: We have studied the in vivo effects of adrenocorticotropin (ACTH) on mRNA levels of c-jun, jun-B, c-fos and fos-B, in rat adrenals. In control rats, c-jun mRNA was abundant in both zona glomerulosa (ZG) and zona fasciculatareticularis (ZF-R). Although less abundant than c-jun, the mRNA of jun-B could be detected in both zones, whereas that of c-fos could barely be detected and that of fos-B could not. After an injection with short acting ACTH, mRNA levels of c-jun, c-fos, jun-B and fos-B were maximally increased in both zones within 30 min. Within 5h, the mRNA levels decreased towards control levels for c-jun, to below control levels for jun-B, and to undetectable levels for c-fos and fos-B. After a sustained stimulation by two daily administrations of long acting ACTH, the mRNA of c-jun was still abundant in both zones, although its level decreased by 50% and 80% after 36h and 9 days, respectively, after the first injection. Under such conditions, the mRNA level of jun-B was increased, that of fos-B could barely be detected, and that of c-fos could not be detected. To conclude, these results suggest that jun-B, fos-B, and also c-fos play a role in triggering early events leading to an increased steroidogenesis, as well as a basic role in maintaining the integrity of the adrenal cortex in the case of c-jun and jun-B.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Sherbrooke University, QC, Canada.
authors.forename: J G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: LeHoux
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ducharme
mesh_terms: D000311:Adrenal Glands / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D016762:Genes, fos; D016758:Genes, jun; D008297:Male; D016760:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos / Q000235:genetics*; D016755:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-jun / Q000235:genetics*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D051381:Rats
chemical_list: D016760:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos; D016755:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-jun; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone