title: The effect of prolactin, human chorionic gonadotropin, insulin and insulin-like growth factor 1 on adrenal steroidogenesis in isolated guinea-pig adrenal cells.
abstract: The controlling mechanism for adrenal androgen production has not been elucidated. The presence of receptors for prolactin, human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), insulin and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) in the adrenal cortex raises the possibility of their involvement in the control of adrenal steroidogenesis. This study was undertaken to investigate the effects of prolactin, hCG, insulin and IGF-1 in the presence and absence of ACTH on cortisol and androgen production using isolated guinea-pig adrenal cells. hCG 10(-7) and 10(-6) M significantly increased cortisol (P < 0.05) production. hCG 10(-6) M significantly increased androstenedione (A4) (P < 0.05) production. In the presence of ACTH, 10(-12) M, hCG 10(-6) M significantly increased the cortisol (P < 0.01) and A4 (P < 0.01) responses. Although the mean cortisol and A4 response to ACTH 10(-9) M was reduced in the presence of hCG 10(-6) M, this was not statistically significant. Prolactin 10(-8) M increased cortisol (P < 0.01), A4, and dehydroepiandrosterone (P < 0.05) production. In the presence of ACTH 10(-12) M, prolactin 10(-8) M increased the cortisol and A4 (P < 0.05) responses. However, the maximally ACTH-stimulated cortisol and A4 responses were not significantly altered in the presence of prolactin 10(-8) M. Insulin 10(-11)-10(-8) M and IGF-1 10(-10)-10(-7) M resulted in no significant increase in cortisol, A4 or dehydroepiandrosterone production. This study suggests that prolactin and hCG could play a role in modulation of adrenal steroidogenesis, particularly when ACTH levels are low. However, there was no evidence that prolactin or hCG is the specific cortical androgen stimulating hormone.
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, St Vincent's Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: O'Connell
authors.forename: T J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: McKenna
authors.forename: S K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Cunningham
mesh_terms: D000311:Adrenal Glands / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000494:pharmacology; D000735:Androstenedione / Q000096:biosynthesis; D000818:Animals; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone / Q000096:biosynthesis; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007328:Insulin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D011388:Prolactin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013256:Steroids / Q000096:biosynthesis*
chemical_list: D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin; D007328:Insulin; D013256:Steroids; D000735:Androstenedione; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D011388:Prolactin; D006854:Hydrocortisone