title: Development of adrenal cortical zonation and expression of key elements of adrenal androgen production in the chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes) from birth to adulthood.
abstract: The basis for the pattern of adrenal androgen production in the chimpanzee, which resembles that of humans, is poorly defined. We characterized the developmental zonation and expression of elements of the androgen biosynthetic pathway in the chimpanzee adrenal. The newborn adrenal contained a broad fetal zone (FZ) expressing CYP17, SULT2A1, and Cytochrome B5 (CB5) but not HSD3B; the outer cortex expressed HSD3B but not SULT2A1 or CB5. During infancy, the FZ involuted and the HSD3B-expressing outer cortex broadened. By 3years of age, a thin layer of cells that expressed CB5, SULT2A1, and CYP17 adjoined the medulla and likely represented the zona reticularis; the outer cortex consisted of distinct zonae fasiculata and glomerulosa. Thereafter, the zona reticularis broadened as also occurs in the human. The adult chimpanzee adrenal displayed other human-like characteristics: intramedullary clusters of reticularis-like cells and also a cortical cuff of zona fasiculata-like cells adjoining the central vein.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, United States. Electronic address: crparker@uab.edu.
authors.forename: C R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Parker
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, United States. Electronic address: wgrizzle@uab.edu.
authors.forename: W E
authors.initials: WE
authors.lastname: Grizzle
authors.affiliation: Department of Anthropology, 270S 140E., University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, United States.
authors.forename: J K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Blevins
authors.affiliation: Department of Anthropology, 270S 140E., University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, United States. Electronic address: hawkes@anthro.utah.edu.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hawkes
mesh_terms: D000728:Androgens / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D000818:Animals; D015786:Cytochromes b5 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone / Q000096:biosynthesis; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D002679:Pan troglodytes; D013254:Steroid 17-alpha-Hydroxylase / Q000096:biosynthesis; D015238:Sulfotransferases / Q000096:biosynthesis; D015383:Zona Fasciculata / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism; D015384:Zona Glomerulosa / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism; D015385:Zona Reticularis / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000728:Androgens; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate; D015786:Cytochromes b5; D013254:Steroid 17-alpha-Hydroxylase; D015238:Sulfotransferases; C028152:alcohol sulfotransferase
keywords: Adrenal androgens; Adrenal development; Adrenal gland; Adrenal zonation; Adrenarche; Chimpanzee