title: Adrenarche is associated with decreased 3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase expression in the adrenal reticularis.
abstract: The increased production of adrenal dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and DHEA-sulfate (DHEAS) which occurs during the prepubertal period is known as adrenarche. One hypothesis for adrenarche is that alterations in intra-adrenal expression of steroidogenic enzymes within the inner reticularis zone leads to the increased production of 19-carbon steroids. We tested the hypothesis that at the time of adrenarche there is decreased expression of 3 beta HSD in the reticularis. Immunohistochemical localization of 3 beta HSD was performed and staining intensities compared between adrenal glands from children ages 4 months to 7 years (N = 11) and ages 8 to 11 years (N = 6). No difference was observed between the levels of staining in the glomerulosa and fasciculata from either age group. However, the reticularis from the older children exhibited diminished 3 beta HSD immunoreactivity. These findings suggest that as children mature there is a decreased level of 3 beta HSD in the adrenal reticularis which may contribute to the increased production of DHEA and DHEAS seen during adrenarche.
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Obstetrics & Gynecology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, USA.
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Gell
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Atkins
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Margraf
authors.forename: J I
authors.initials: JI
authors.lastname: Mason
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sasano
authors.forename: W E
authors.initials: WE
authors.lastname: Rainey
authors.forename: B R
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Carr
mesh_terms: D015096:3-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases / Q000378:metabolism*; D000311:Adrenal Glands / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007223:Infant; D015385:Zona Reticularis / Q000201:enzymology*
chemical_list: D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate; D015096:3-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases