title: The peptide ACTH(1-39), adrenal growth and steroidogenesis in the sheep fetus after disconnection of the hypothalamus and pituitary.
abstract: 1. We have investigated the role of the fetal hypothalamo-pituitary axis in the control of adrenocortical growth and steroidogenesis in the sheep fetus during late gestation. Plasma concentrations of ACTH(1-39) increased between 120-125 and 136-142 days (P < 0.05), but did not change after surgical disconnection of the fetal hypothalamus and pituitary (HPD) at 106-120 days gestation. There was no effect of either gestational age or HPD on the circulating concentrations of the ACTH-containing precursors pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) and pro-ACTH (the 22 kDa N-terminal portion of POMC). 2. In the fetal sheep adrenal, the relative abundance of the mRNAs of the steroidogenic enzymes CYPIIA1 and CYP21A1 increased between 130-135 and 136-140 days gestation (P < 0.05) and remained high after 141 days, whereas that of CYP17 mRNA increased after 141 days gestation (P < 0.05). The abundance of adrenal 3 beta-HSD mRNA did not change between 130 and 145 days. 3. Hypothalamo-pituitary disconnection significantly reduced the abundance of of CYPIIA1 mRNA, 3 beta-HSD mRNA and CYP17 mRNA by 3.4, 3.1 and 3.7 times, respectively, at 140-142 days gestation (P < 0.05). 4. In the intact group of fetal sheep, adrenal weight increased between 130-135 and 141-145 days (P < 0.05), but there was no change in the abundance of adrenal insulin-like growth factor II (IGF-II) mRNA across this gestational age range. Hypothalamo-pituitary disconnection significantly reduced fetal adrenal weight to 66% that of intact sheep (P < 0.01), but did not alter the abundance of IGF-II mRNA in the fetal adrenal at 140-142 days. 5. Our results suggest that the prepartum changes in adrenal growth and steroidogenesis are under the control of an intact hypothalamo-pituitary axis in late gestation and are dependent on an increase in circulating ACTH(1-39), rather than on ACTH precursors. We have found no evidence, however, for a direct-relationship between fetal adrenal growth or steroidogenesis and adrenal IGF-II mRNA between 130 and 145 days gestation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Adelaide University, Australia.
authors.forename: I D
authors.initials: ID
authors.lastname: Phillips
authors.forename: J T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Ross
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Owens
authors.forename: I R
authors.initials: IR
authors.lastname: Young
authors.forename: I C
authors.initials: IC
authors.lastname: McMillen
mesh_terms: D000311:Adrenal Glands / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D015342:DNA Probes; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D007031:Hypothalamus / Q000502:physiology*; D007335:Insulin-Like Growth Factor II / Q000096:biosynthesis; D009929:Organ Size; D010902:Pituitary Gland / Q000502:physiology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D012756:Sheep; D013256:Steroids / Q000096:biosynthesis*
chemical_list: D015342:DNA Probes; D018076:DNA, Complementary; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D013256:Steroids; D007335:Insulin-Like Growth Factor II; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone