title: Characterization of adrenal ACTH signaling pathway and steroidogenic enzymes in Erhualian and Pietrain pigs with different plasma cortisol levels.
abstract: Our previous study demonstrated significant difference in the basal plasma cortisol levels between Erhualian (EHL) and Pietrain (PIE) pigs, implicating fundamental breed difference in adrenocortical function. The objectives of the present study were therefore to characterize the expression pattern of proteins involved in adrenal ACTH signaling and, including melanocortin type 2 receptor (MC2R), cAMP response element binding protein (CREB) and phosphorylated CREB (pCREB), steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR), as well as that of the key enzymes involved in steroidogenesis in EHL and PIE pigs, in association with the plasma corticotrophin (ACTH) and cortisol levels. The plasma concentrations of the substrates for adrenal steroidogenesis, cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, did not differ between breeds. Plasma concentration of ACTH and the adrenal contents of MC2R mRNA and protein were similar in two breeds of pigs, whereas the basal plasma concentrations of cortisol in EHL pigs were 1.5 folds higher than that in PIE pigs. The higher basal plasma cortisol levels in EHL pigs were found to be accompanied with the higher expression of ACTH post-receptor signaling components, cAMP, pCREB and StAR, as well as the higher expression of cholesterol side-chain cleavage cytochrome P450 (P450scc), 17alpha-hydroxylase cytochrome P450 (P450(17alpha)), 21-hydroxylase cytochrome P450 (P450c21) and 11beta-hydroxylase cytochrome P450 (P450(11beta)). These results indicated that the enhanced cAMP/PKA/pCREB-signaling system and augmented expression of StAR and steroidogenic enzymes are major attributes to the higher basal plasma cortisol concentrations in pigs.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Animal Physiology & Biochemistry, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, PR China.
authors.forename: Liu-An
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Dong
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Xia
authors.forename: Shi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hartung
authors.forename: Ru-Qian
authors.initials: RQ
authors.lastname: Zhao
mesh_terms: D000311:Adrenal Glands / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism*; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western; D000242:Cyclic AMP / Q000378:metabolism; D017362:Cyclic AMP Response Element-Binding Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood*; D044103:Receptor, Melanocortin, Type 2 / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013045:Species Specificity; D013552:Swine
chemical_list: D017362:Cyclic AMP Response Element-Binding Protein; D044103:Receptor, Melanocortin, Type 2; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D000242:Cyclic AMP; D006854:Hydrocortisone