title: Effects of gestation on enzymes controlling aldosterone synthesis in the rat adrenal.
abstract: In the present study, the effects of gestation on various enzymes implicated in corticosteroid synthesis were evaluated in adrenal zona glomerulosa and zona fasciculata-reticularis of the Sprague-Dawley rat. The activity and expression of cholesterol side-chain cleavage cytochrome P450, 11beta-hydroxylase cytochrome P450, and aldosterone synthase cytochrome P450 (P450aldo) were analyzed. Plasma aldosterone levels were increased significantly at 22 days gestation (n = 10) and fell below the nonpregnant levels at 18-36 h postpartum (n = 11). The activity and expression of 11beta-hydroxylase cytochrome P450 and cholesterol side-chain cleavage cytochrome P450 were not modified by gestation. P450aldo activity increased at 14 days gestation (n = 4) and returned to the prepregnancy level at 2 weeks postpartum (n = 5). As shown by Northern blot analysis (n = 3), P450aldo messenger RNA increased significantly at 22 days gestation and decreased 18-36 h postpartum. We clearly demonstrated that elevated plasma aldosterone levels during pregnancy are associated with augmented activity and messenger RNA levels of P450aldo in the zona glomerulosa.
authors.affiliation: Research Center, Sainte-Justine's Hospital, University of Montreal, Quebec, Canada. brochum@ere.umontreal.ca
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Brochu
authors.forename: J G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Lehoux
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Picard
mesh_terms: D000302:Adrenal Cortex / Q000201:enzymology*; D000450:Aldosterone / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000097:blood; D000818:Animals; D002786:Cholesterol Side-Chain Cleavage Enzyme / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism*; D003345:Corticosterone / Q000097:blood; D019405:Cytochrome P-450 CYP11B2 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D049590:Postpartum Period / Q000378:metabolism; D011247:Pregnancy; D011270:Pregnancy, Animal / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013252:Steroid 11-beta-Hydroxylase / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism*; D013997:Time Factors; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D015383:Zona Fasciculata / Q000201:enzymology; D015384:Zona Glomerulosa / Q000201:enzymology; D015385:Zona Reticularis / Q000201:enzymology
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger; D000450:Aldosterone; D019405:Cytochrome P-450 CYP11B2; D013252:Steroid 11-beta-Hydroxylase; D002786:Cholesterol Side-Chain Cleavage Enzyme; D003345:Corticosterone