title: Coordinated regression of adrenocortical endocrine and endothelial compartments under adrenocorticotropin deprivation.
abstract: The adrenal cortex is a complex tissue comprising different cell types, including endocrine, stromal, nerve, perivascular, and endothelial cells. The pituitary hormone ACTH controls the coordinated development of the vasculature and the endocrine tissue mass. This suggests that paracrine secretions between steroidogenic cells and capillary endothelial cells participate in the control of adrenocortical homeostasis. In this paper, we present data demonstrating that ACTH deprivation-induced adrenal atrophy results from alterations of both endocrine and endothelial compartments. These data support the concept that, in addition to its protective effect on endocrine cells, ACTH controls adult adrenal cortex trophicity through an additional paracrine mechanism implying maintenance of the vasculature by VEGF.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cellular Responses and Dynamics, Commisariat à l'Energie Atomique, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, Grenoble, France.
authors.forename: Michelle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Keramidas
authors.forename: Jean-Jacques
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Feige
authors.forename: Michaël
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Thomas
mesh_terms: D000302:Adrenal Cortex / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000172:deficiency*; D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D001284:Atrophy; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000494:pharmacology; D004702:Endocrine Glands / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology*; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D005938:Glucocorticoids; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D003907:Dexamethasone; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone