[Investigations on regulation of CRH, ACTH and cortisol in trophoblast cells in vitro].
OBJECTIVE
Trophoblast cells synthesise CRH and ACTH, which are peptide hormones. On the strength of special enzymes they are capable of catalyzing the reaction cortisol <--> cortisone. In vitro experiments should give a proof of influence to ACTH- and cortisol secretion by CRH, ACTH and prednisolon. The basal rate of cortisol secretion was examined in a long term experiment.


METHODS
Trophoblast cells were prepared from human term placentae by standard trypsin-DNAse dispersion of villous tissue followed by a percoll gradient centrifugation step. After adjusting the cell suspension to a defined cell concentration of 1 x 10(6) cells/ml the cells were cultivated. The addition of CRH, ACTH or prednisolon followed every eight hours. The samples collected 20 or 30 minutes later, also from unstimulated cultures, were assayed for ACTH and cortisol by enzyme-immunometric methods.


RESULTS
The concentration of cortisol shows a rhythmical course in long term cell cultures. The addition of CRH (500 ng/ml, 1 microg/ml) stimulates the concentration of ACTH- and cortisol in a time-depending manner. The addition of ACTH (500 ng/ml-2 microg/ml) stimulates the concentration of cortisol in a time-depending manner. The addition of prednisolon stimulates the concentration of ACTH.


CONCLUSIONS
The trophoblast cell shows a rhythmical course in the concentration of cortisol. For the first time a CRH-ACTH-cortisol feedback loop could be demonstrated in cultured trophoblast cells.
Höcker
I
I
Universität Rostock, Frauenklinik und Poliklinik, Rostock.
Briese
V
V
Richter
D U
DU
Mylonas
I
I
Friese
K
K
Jeschke
U
U
D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000502:physiology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000502:physiology*; D005246:Feedback; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000502:physiology*; D010507:Periodicity; D014327:Trophoblasts / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*
D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone; D006854:Hydrocortisone