[Histological and molecular study of fetal human adrenal cortex (12-36 wk)].
Histological and functional characteristics of the fetal human adrenals was studied in 119 normal fetuses aged 12 to 36 weeks development (WD). Immunocytochemical detection of steroidogenesis enzyme (3beta-HSD and P450 c21) and evaluation of cell proliferation using two nuclear markers (Ki-67 and PCNA) were performed in 70 of them. The human fetal adrenal cortex is composed of two morphologically distinct zones: the definitive peripheral zone and the fetal inner zone. From the 12th WD, we observed expression of an adherence protein (NCAM) and two steroidogenesis enzymes (3beta-HSD and P450 c21) in the definitive zone cells, attesting to the capacity of these cells to synthesize mineralocorticoids and/or cortisol. In the fetal zone, only P450 c21 immunoreactivity was detected. From the 14th WD, a transitional zone between the definitive zone and the fetal zone was identified by immunocytochemistry, with expression of 3b-HSD from the 21st WD. Only cells of the definitive zone proliferated from the 12th to 25th WD. The indexes of proliferation of PCNA and Ki-67, 40% and 25% respectively, decreased gradually and were lower than 1% at the 25th WD.
Folligan
K
K
Laboratoire d'Histologie et Embryologie moléculaires. Faculté de Médecine Lyon-RTH Laennec, rue Guillaume Paradin, 69372 Lyon Cedex 08, France.
Bouvier
R
R
Targe
F
F
Morel
Y
Y
Trouillas
J
J
D015096:3-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases / Q000032:analysis; D000302:Adrenal Cortex / Q000196:embryology*; D002455:Cell Division; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen / Q000032:analysis; D018809:Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen / Q000032:analysis; D013255:Steroid 21-Hydroxylase / Q000032:analysis
D019394:Ki-67 Antigen; D018809:Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen; D015096:3-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases; D013255:Steroid 21-Hydroxylase