title: Expression of steroidogenic enzyme messenger ribonucleic acid and cortisol production in adrenocortical cells isolated from halothane-sensitive and halothane-resistant pigs.
abstract: Stress susceptibility in pigs is inherited by a single recessive gene (Hal(n)), and homozygous individuals can be identified by exposure to halothane anesthesia. Previous studies have shown that in stress-susceptible pigs, exposure to a high ambient temperature resulted in a twofold increase in corticotropin (ACTH) and lower plasma cortisol. To determine whether there is a fundamental difference in adrenocortical function between halothane-sensitive (HAL-S) and halothane-resistant (HAL-R) pigs, independent of other factors influencing the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, we compared cortisol responses to ACTH and 8-bromo-cyclic AMP (8-Br-cAMP) in HAL-S and HAL-R pig adrenocortical cells in vitro. We also determined directly the accumulation of four different mRNAs encoding cholesterol side-chain cleavage cytochrome P450 (P450(scc)), 17alpha-hydroxylase cytochrome P450 (P450(17alpha)), 21-hydroxylase cytochrome P450 (P450(c21)) and 11beta-hydroxylase cytochrome P450 (P450(11beta)) in HAL-S pig adrenal cells and compared them to HAL-R pigs. A time- and dose-dependent increase in medium content of cortisol and cAMP was observed after ACTH treatment. 8-Br-cAMP also caused a time- and dose-dependent increase in cortisol production in the medium. Addition of ACTH or 8-Br-cAMP to HAL-S and HAL-R male Lanyu small-ear miniature pig adrenocortical cells increased cortisol production in a dose- and time-related manner. However, cells isolated from HAL-S pigs had a lower cortisol production in response to ACTH or 8-Br-cAMP compared to those from HAL-R pigs. Treatment of cultured cells with 8-Br-cAMP (0.5 mM) for 18 h resulted in a significant increase in P450(scc), P450(17alpha), P450(c21), and P450(11beta) mRNA levels. In the absence of 8-Br-cAMP, the four genes were expressed constitutively in both HAL-S and HAL-R pig adrenal cells. Densitometric scanning of the autoradiograph indicated that the relative amounts of P450(scc) and P450(17(alpha)) mRNAs in HAL-S pig adrenal cells were between 48% and 53% of those detected in HAL-R pig adrenal cells (P < 0.05). No difference in the amounts of P450(c21) and P450(11beta) was seen in HAL-S and HAL-R pig adrenal cells. Addition of 8-Br-cAMP (0.5 mM) resulted in a uniform increase in the levels of all four P450 mRNAs in both HAL-S and HAL-R pig adrenal cells. However, the amounts of P450(scc) mRNA in HAL-S pig adrenal cells were 67% (P < 0.05) of those measured in HAL-R pig adrenal cells, whereas the amounts of P450(17alpha ), P450(c21), and P450(11beta) mRNAs were similar in these cells. Our data suggest an HPA axis defect in HAL-S pigs at the adrenal level. This defect appears to be at the level of P450scc gene expression, which could be partially related to reduced cortisol production by ACTH stimulation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 701, Taiwan, Republic of China.
authors.forename: H S
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: P H
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000302:Adrenal Cortex / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D000242:Cyclic AMP / Q000096:biosynthesis; D003577:Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System / Q000235:genetics*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D006221:Halothane / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008297:Male; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D013552:Swine; D013556:Swine, Miniature
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D003577:Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System; D000242:Cyclic AMP; D006221:Halothane; D006854:Hydrocortisone