title: Regulation and function of steroid production by mid gestation ovine fetal adrenal cortex in vivo.
abstract: By mid-gestation (75-85 days, term=150 days), the ovine fetal adrenal gland is zoned into cortex and medulla. The cortex has an outer layer of cells which have the morphological characteristics of zona glomerulosa cells, containing mitochondria with lamellar cristae. It has been reported that cultured adrenal cells from mid-gestation bovine and ovine fetuses can be stimulated to increase aldosterone production, ten fold, by angiotensin II, and that this can be maintained for at least 3 days. However, the situation in vivo is unknown. In the current report we show that in chronically cannulated ovine fetuses at mid-gestation, angiotensin II (1 microg/h) does not increase aldosterone either in the short term (3 hours) or long term (3 days). However, ACTH (450 ng/h) can increase plasma aldosterone in the short but not long term. ACTH at this dose produces progressive and large increases in cortisol production. Angiotensin II is pressor and produces a modest diuresis without stimulating cortisol.
authors.affiliation: Howard Florey Institute of Experimental Physiology and Medicine, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia.
authors.forename: K M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Moritz
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Butkus
authors.forename: A C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: McFarlane
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Albiston
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Salenmi
authors.forename: E M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Wintour
mesh_terms: D000302:Adrenal Cortex / Q000196:embryology*; D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000494:pharmacology; D000450:Aldosterone / Q000097:blood; D000804:Angiotensin II / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D004231:Diuresis / Q000187:drug effects; D005314:Embryonic and Fetal Development / Q000502:physiology; D005333:Fetus / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D005865:Gestational Age; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D009994:Osmolar Concentration; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D000804:Angiotensin II; D000450:Aldosterone; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D006854:Hydrocortisone