title: Urotensin-II and UII-receptor expression and function in the rat adrenal cortex.
abstract: Urotensin-II (UII) is a potent hypertensive peptide, which has been recognized as an endogenous ligand of the G protein-coupled receptor (GPR)-14, now named UT-R. Real-time PCR demonstrated the expression of UII and UT-R mRNAs in both dispersed and in vitro cultured rat adrenocortical cells. UII concentration-dependently decreased basal, but not ACTH-stimulated, corticosterone secretion from cultured adrenocortical cells, and the effect was abolished by the UT-R antagonist Palosuran. UII did not affect the proliferation rate of cultured cells. Taken together, these findings suggest that UII may be included in the group of peptides (adrenomedullin, atrial natriuretic peptide, neurotensin and beacon), that, acting in an autocrine-paracrine manner, are involved in the inhibitory tuning of adrenocortical secretion.
authors: Department of Human Anatomy and Physiology, Section of Anatomy, School of Medicine, University of Padua, Italy.
authors: Giovanna
authors: G
authors: Albertin
authors: Valentina
authors: V
authors: Casale
authors: Agnieszka
authors: A
authors: Ziolkowska
authors: Raffaella
authors: R
authors: Spinazzi
authors: Ludwik K
authors: LK
authors: Malendowicz
authors: Gian Paolo
authors: GP
authors: Rossi
authors: Gastone G
authors: GG
authors: Nussdorfer