Radioactive probes for adrenocorticotropic hormone receptors

Our attempts to develop adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) analogues that can be employed for ACTH receptor identification and isolation began with the synthesis of ACTH fragments containing N epsilon-(dethiobiotinyl)lysine (dethiobiocytin) amide in position 25 to be used for affinity chromatographic purification of hormone-receptor complexes on Sepharose-immobilized avidin resins. Because labeling ACTH or ACTH fragments by conventional iodination techniques destroys biological activity due to oxidation of Met4 and incorporation of iodine into Tyr2, we have prepared [Phe2,Nle4]ACTH1-24, [Phe2,Nle4,biocytin25]ACTH1-25 amide, and [Phe2,Nle4,dethiobiocytin25]ACTH1-25 amide by conventional synthetic techniques. The HPLC profiles and amino acid analyses of the final products indicate that the materials are of a high degree of purity. The amount of tertiary butylation of the Trp residue in the peptides was assessed by NMR and was found to be less than 0.5%. All three peptides are equipotent with the standard ACTH1-24 as concerns their ability to stimulate steroidogenesis and cAMP formation in bovine adrenal cortical cells. Iodination of [Phe2,Nle4]ACTH1-24, with iodogen as the oxidizing agent, has been accomplished without any detectable loss of biological activity. The mono- and diiodo derivatives of [Phe2,Nle4]ACTH1-24 have been prepared, separated by HPLC, and assayed for biological activity. Both peptides have the full capacity to stimulate steroidogenesis and cAMP production in bovine adrenal cortical cells.     

Effect of glucocorticoids pretreatment on steroidogenic capacity of adrenocortical cells isolated from Meishan piglets

The present in vitro experiment was designed to test whether 48 h of pretreatment with glucocorticoids, cortisol, or dexamethasone (DEX), would affect basal and corticotrophin (ACTH) stimulated (24 h) cortisol secretion from primary cultures of pig adrenocortical cells. Cells were divided into six groups: control pretreatment with or without ACTH challenge, cortisol pretreatment with or without ACTH challenge, and DEX pretreatment with or without ACTH. The culture medium and cells were collected at the end of treatment. Cortisol concentration in medium was measured by radioimmunoassay, and protein content of glucocorticoid receptor (GR) and key regulatory factors for steroidogenesis, including melanocortin type 2 receptor (MC2R), steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR) and cholesterol side-chain cleavage cytochrome P450 (P450scc), were detected by Western blot analysis. The results showed that glucocorticoid pretreatment did not affect cortisol secretion under basal condition without ACTH challenge, but significantly enhanced ACTH-stimulated cortisol secretion. Furthermore, the protein content of GR, MC2R, StAR, and P450scc was all increased in groups pretreated with glucocorticoids. These results indicate that adrenocortical cells pretreated with glucocorticoids display higher steroidogenic capacity under ACTH challenge, through the upregulation of GR and other steroidogenic regulatory factors.     

Glucocorticoid induction of the maturation of ovine fetal adrenocortical cells

The aim of the present study was to assess whether glucocorticoids could be directly involved in the maturation of adrenocortical cells from 120-138 days old ovine fetuses. The cAMP response to ACTH1-24 of cells cultured for 24 hours in the presence of ACTH1-24 was 2 fold higher than that of control cells. However, the response of cells cultured in the presence of ACTH1-24 plus metyrapone or aminoglutethimide was lower than that of cells cultured in the presence of ACTH1-24 alone. Cells cultured for 48 hours in the presence of dexamethasone or cortisol released more cAMP than control cells when stimulated by ACTH1-24, but not in response to forskolin. However corticosteroid production stimulated by ACTH1-24, forskolin or dibutyryl cAMP was enhanced by dexamethasone treatment. These results suggest that glucocorticoids can affect the maturation of ovine fetal adrenocortical cells by an auto and/or a paracrine process, and that this effect is exerted, at least, at two different levels in the cell.     

Adenylate cyclase activity and cyclic AMP production in the outer and inner zones of the adrenal cortex

It has been reported that cells isolated from the inner zone of the guinea pig adrenal cortex fail to have a steroidogenic response to ACTH. To further explore this, adenylate cyclase activity of membrane particles and cAMP production by cells prepared from the inner and outer adrenocortical zones were determined. The cAMP response to ACTH and forskolin was similar for cells from both zones. Basal adenylate cyclase activity was significantly higher in the inner zone; and while absolute responses to ACTH, GppNHp, GTP, NaF, and forskolin were greater for the inner zone, relative responses were similar for the two zones. These observations suggest that the inner zone of the guinea pig adrenal cortex may have a defect in ACTH action at a step(s) beyond cAMP formation.     

Mechanisms of insulin inhibition of ACTH-stimulated steroid secretion by cultured bovine adrenocortical cells.

Results of previous studies indicated that insulin at levels comparable to those in humans during hyperinsulinemia decreased ACTH-stimulated cortisol and androstenedione secretion by bovine adrenal fasciculata-reticularis cells in primary culture. In the present studies this inhibitory action was examined further by comparing the effects of insulin on ACTH-stimulated corticosteroid secretion with its effects on 8-(4-chlorophenylthio)-cAMP (cpt-cAMP), forskolin- and [5val]angiotensin II (Ang II)-stimulated corticosteroid secretion. Effects on corticosteroid secretion were correlated with effects on cAMP accumulation and rates of cAMP production. Monolayers were incubated for 24 h in the absence or presence of each agonist alone or in combination with insulin. Insulin (1.7 x 10(-9) or 17.5 x 10(-9) M) caused about a 50% decrease in cortisol and androstenedione secretion in response to ACTH (10(-11) or 10(-8) M). Insulin also decreased ACTH-stimulated aldosterone secretion by cultured glomerulosa cells. Cpt-cAMP (10(-4) or 10(-3) M)-stimulated increases in cortisol and androstenedione secretion were inhibited by insulin, but to a lesser extent than those in response to ACTH. The inhibition of cpt-cAMP-stimulated steroid secretion was not related to increased degradation of the cyclic nucleotide. Increases in cortisol and androstenedione secretion caused by a submaximal concentration (10(-6) M) of forskolin were decreased 50-70% by insulin. In contrast, insulin failed to significantly affect cortisol or androstenedione secretion caused by a maximal concentration (10(-5) M) of forskolin. The secretory responses to Ang II (10(-8) M) were also unaffected by insulin. The effect of insulin to inhibit ACTH-stimulated steroid secretion was accompanied by a reduction in cAMP accumulation as well as an apparent inhibition of adenylate cyclase activation. These data indicate that the effect of insulin to attenuate ACTH-stimulated corticosteroid secretion results from both an inhibition of ACTH-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity and an antagonism of the intracellular actions of cAMP.     

Clonal variation in response to adrenocorticotropin in cultured bovine adrenocortical cells: relationship to senescence

During cellular senescence, non-clonal cultures of bovine adrenocortical cells show a continuous decline in the rate of production of cyclic AMP (cAMP) stimulated by adrenocorticotropin (ACTH), without changes in the rate of forskolin- or prostaglandin E1-stimulated cAMP production. We investigated the possible mechanisms for loss of response to ACTH by examining the properties of clones of bovine adrenocortical cells. ACTH-stimulated cAMP production rates were measured in clones immediately after isolation, during long-term growth following isolation, and after subcloning. ACTH-stimulated rates were compared with cAMP production in response to forskolin, which acts directly on the catalytic subunit of adenylate cyclase. The results show that cloning is not necessarily associated with a loss of response to ACTH, but that clones with high ACTH response can give rise to subclones with low response. Clones of adrenocortical cells, at the same approximate population doubling level (PDL), showed ACTH response levels that ranged from 12 to 135 pmol cAMP/10(6) cells/min, whereas mass cultures at this PDL showed approximately 50 pmol/10(6) cells/min. Forskolin-stimulated cAMP production rates in clones varied only over the range of 59-119 pmol/10(6) cells/min and showed no correlation with the ACTH-stimulated rates. All clones were adrenocortical cells, as shown by mitogenic response to angiotensin II and cAMP-inducible 17 alpha-hydroxylase activity. The replicative potential of clones varied widely, and there was no apparent correlation between ACTH response levels and growth potential. The level of ACTH response in each clone was stable during proliferation through at least 25 PD beyond the stage at which the clone was isolated. When clones were subcloned, a clone with a high ACTH response level produced sister subclones that had ACTH response levels ranging from 3% of that of the parent clone to a level slightly greater than that of the parent clone. The growth potential of sister subclones varied widely, as for the parent clones, and there was no obvious correlation between growth potential and ACTH response. Two subclones were cloned; in sub-subclones, levels of ACTH response were again different from each other and also from the parent subclone; in one case, the level of ACTH response was approximately eight-fold higher than that of the parent subclone. These experiments show that clonal variation in the extent of expression of a differentiated property may occur in a normal differentiated cell in culture. The loss of ACTH response and the loss of proliferative potential appear to be independent stochastic events.     

Atrial and brain natriuretic peptide in adrenal steroidogenesis.

We elucidated the role of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) and brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) in human and bovine adrenocortical steroidogenesis. The urinary volume, sodium excretion and cyclic GMP (cGMP) excretion and plasma cGMP were markedly increased by the synthetic alpha-human ANP (alpha-hANP) infusion in healthy volunteers. Plasma arginine vasopressin (AVP) and aldosterone levels were significantly suppressed. Both ANP and BNP inhibited aldosterone, 19-OH-androstenedione, cortisol and DHEA secretion dose-dependently and increased the accumulation of intracellular cGMP in cultured human and bovine adrenal cells. alpha-hANP significantly suppressed P450scc-mRNA in cultured bovine adrenal cells stimulated by ACTH. Autoradiography and affinity labeling of [125I]hANP, and Scatchard plot demonstrated a specific ANP receptor in bovine and human adrenal glands. Purified ANP receptor from bovine adrenal glands identified two distinct types of ANP receptors, one is biologically active, the other is silent. A specific BNP receptor was also identified on the human and bovine adrenocortical cell membranes. The binding sites were displaced by unlabelled ANP as well as BNP. BNP showed an effect possibly via a receptor which may be shared with ANP. The mean basal plasma alpha-hANP level was 25 +/- 5 pg/ml in young men. We confirmed the presence of ANP and BNP in bovine and porcine adrenal medulla. Plasma or medullary ANP or BNP may directly modulate the adrenocortical steroidogenesis. We demonstrated that the lack of inhibitory effect of alpha-hANP on cultured aldosterone-producing adenoma (APA) cells was due to the decrease of ANP-specific receptor, which caused the loss of suppression of aldosterone and an increase in intracellular cGMP.     

The effects of ageing on the morphology and function of the zonae fasciculata and reticularis of the rat adrenal cortex

Summary The morphological counterpart of the well-known age-dependent marked impairment of glucocorticoid secretion of rat adrenals was investigated by use of morphometric techniques. For this purpose 4-, 8-, 16- and 24-month-old rats were studied. Despite the notable lowering of both basal and ACTH-stimulated production of corticosterone by collagenase-dispersed inner adrenocortical cells, ACTH and corticosterone plasma concentrations displayed significant increases with ageing. Zona fasciculata (ZF) and zona reticularis (ZR) showed a notable hypertrophy in aged rats, which was due to rises in both the average volume and number of their parenchymal cells. The hypertrophy of ZF and ZR cells was in turn associated with increase in the volume of the mitochondrial compartment and proliferation of smooth endoplasmic reticulum, i.e., the two organelles involved in steroid-hormone synthesis. All these morphologic changes, conceivably due to the chronic exposure to high levels of circulating ACTH, are interpreted as a response enabling ZF and ZR to compensate for their age-dependent lowering in glucocorticoid secretion. Stereology also demonstrated that ZF and ZR cells underwent a striking age-related lipid-droplet repletion. Lipid droplets are the intracellular stores of cholesterol esters, the obligate precursors of steroid hormones in rats. This finding is in keeping with the contention that the mechanism underlying the age-dependent decline in rat-adrenal glucocorticoid secretion mainly involves impairments of the utilization of intracellular cholesterol previous to its intramitochondrial transformation to pregnenolone.     

Persistent activation of steroidogenesis in adrenocortical cells by photoaffinity labeling of corticotropin receptors

Photolysis of rat adrenocortical cells in the presence of the photoreactive derivative [(2-nitro-5-azidophenylsulfenyl)Trp9]-adrenocorticotropic hormone (2,5-NAPS-ACTH) at 24 degrees C resulted in persistent activation of corticosterone production. The basal rate of steroidogenesis became maximal when photolysis was performed at 24 degrees C but remained the same as that of control cells when irradiation was performed at 0 degrees C. No increase in basal rate was observed with dark controls or cells photolyzed with [(2,4-dinitrophenylsulfenyl)Trp9]ACTH, a photoresistant analog of the hormone. Prephotolyzed 2,5-NAPS-ACTH failed to induce persistent activation. Both ACTH and 2,4-(dinitrophenylsulfenyl)Trp9-ACTH blocked the photo-induced activation of steroidogenesis elicited by 2,5-NAPS-ACTH. Under photolysis conditions which caused the basal rate of steroidogenesis to become maximal, a 3-fold increase in the basal rate of cAMP formation was observed.     

ACTH sensitivity of isolated human pathological adrenocortical cells: variability of responses in aldosterone, corticosterone, deoxycorticosterone and cortisol production

In vitro aldosterone, deoxycorticosterone, corticosterone and cortisol production of human adrenocortical cells derived from adenomas (Conn's syndrome, Cushing's syndrome), from hyperplastic adrenals (Cushing's syndrome) and from adrenals surrounding aldosteronoma are described. Cells from adenomas causing either Cushing's syndrome or Conn's syndrome harboured the highest basal and ACTH-stimulated corticosteroid production. Adrenocortical cells derived from micronodular hyperplasia causing Cushing's syndrome and cells from cortisol producing adenoma displayed predominantly cortisol and corticosterone secretion both under basal conditions and following stimulation with ACTH. Aldosteronoma cells showed highly variable aldosterone, deoxycorticosterone, corticosterone and cortisol response to ACTH. However, in aldosteronoma cell suspensions, the basal and ACTH-stimulated ratios of aldosterone to cortisol were increased when compared to ratios of steroids produced by cells from other adrenal tissues. Chronic treatment with spironolactone of patients with Conn's syndrome before surgery was associated with a decreased ratio of aldosterone to corticosterone, revealing that 18-hydroxylase in aldosteronoma cells may be inhibited during long-term therapy. Non-tumorous cells isolated from adrenals surrounding aldosteronoma displayed less aldosterone prior to and after stimulation with ACTH than aldosteronoma cells.     

Actions of cholera toxin on dispersed Chief cells from guinea pig stomach

Although much is known about the actions of cholera toxin on intestinal and extra-gastrointestinal tissues, almost nothing is known about the interaction of this toxin with cells in the stomach. In the present study, we prepared 125I-labeled cholera toxin (1900 Ci/mmol) and examined the binding of this radioligand to dispersed Chief cells from guinea pig stomach. Moreover, we examined the actions of cholera toxin on cellular cAMP and pepsinogen secretion from Chief cells. Binding of 125I-labeled cholera toxin could be detected within 5 min, was maximal by 60 min, and was increased by increasing the radioligand or cell concentrations. Inhibition of binding by unlabeled toxin indicated a dissociation constant of 3 nM and 8.7 X 10(5) cholera toxin receptors per Chief cell. In contrast to the rapidity of binding, a cholera toxin-induced increase in cAMP and pepsinogen secretion was not detected until 30-45 min of incubation. A 3 to 6-fold increase in cAMP and pepsinogen secretion was observed with maximal concentrations of cholera toxin. Binding of 125I-labeled cholera toxin and the toxin's actions on cAMP and pepsinogen secretion were inhibited by the B subunit of the toxin. Binding was not altered by other agents that have been shown to stimulate pepsinogen secretion (carbachol, CCK-8, secretin, vasoactive intestinal peptide, prostaglandin E1, or forskolin). These data indicate that Chief cells from guinea pig stomach possess a specific class of cholera toxin receptors. Binding of cholera toxin to these receptors causes an increase in cellular cAMP that stimulates pepsinogen secretion.     

The role of calcium ions in the mechanism of ACTH stimulation of cortisol synthesis

Removal of free calcium ions from the incubation medium of isolated bovine adrenocortical cells with EGTA reduced basal cortisol synthesis and blocked the effects of ACTH; additional calcium restored normal steroid synthesis. Calcium channel blockers, verapamil and nitrendipine and the calmodulin antagonist, trifluoperazine inhibited ACTH-stimulated cortisol synthesis in a dose-dependent manner (IC50s of 6.2, 10 and 5.2 microM, respectively). Steroidogenic effects of dibutyryl cyclic AMP were prevented with 50 microM verapamil or trifluoperazine. Calcium ionophore A23187 at 1 microM increased cortisol synthesis 2-3 fold which was less than the normal response to ACTH. Stimulatory effects of ionophore and cyclic AMP or ACTH were not additive. ACTH-stimulation of cortisol synthesis appears to involve cyclic AMP-dependent uptake of extracellular calcium ions, possibly by a mechanism requiring calmodulin. Increases in intracellular calcium ions cannot wholly mimic ACTH actions.     

Porcine brain natriuretic peptide receptor in bovine adrenal cortex

The action of porcine brain natriuretic peptide (pBNP) on the steroidogenesis was investigated in cultured bovine adrenocortical cells. Porcine BNP induced a significant dose-dependent inhibition of both ACTH- and A II-stimulated aldosterone secretion. 10(-8) M and 10(-7) M pBNP also significantly inhibited ACTH-stimulated cortisol and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) secretions. Binding studies of [125I]-pBNP to bovine adrenocortical membrane fractions showed that adrenal cortex had high-affinity and low-capacity pBNP binding sites, with a dissociation constant (Kd) of 1.70 x 10(-10) M and a maximal binding capacity (Bmax) of 19.9 fmol/mg protein. Finally, the 135 Kd radioactive band was specially visualized in the affinity labeling of bovine adrenal cortex with disuccinimidyl suberate (DSS). These results suggest that pBNP may have receptor-mediated suppressive actions on bovine adrenal steroidogenesis, similar to that in atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP).     

Differential response to adrenocorticotropic hormone analogs of bovine adrenal plasma membranes and cells.

The ability of three analogs of ACTH1-24 ([Gln5, Phe9] ACTH1-24, [Gln5, Ala9[Acth1-24, and [Gln5, Lys8, Phe9[ ACTH1-24) embodying tryptophan substitutions to activate the adenylate cyclase system of a bovine adrenal plasma membrane preparation was compared to the effect of the analogs on adenosine 3':5'-monophosphate (cyclic AMP) accumulation and steroidogenesis in viable bovine adrenocortical cells. The results were not comparable. Whereas the analogs antagonized the ACTH1-24-activated membrane cyclase they stimulated cyclic AMP accumulation as well as steroid production of the cells. None of the analogs inhibited steroidogenesis of ACTH1-24-stimulated cells, but two of them, at very high dose levels, inhibited cyclic AMP production. The ability of the analogs to stimulate steroidogenesis of the adrenal cells half-maximally decreased in the order tryptophan greater than phenylalanine greater than alanine, indicating that the aromaticity of the indole ring of tryptophan is necessary for maximal interaction between hormone and receptor. Both the absolute and relative steroidogenic potencies were the same for several analogs when assayed with rat adrenal cells. Although only a small fraction of the cell's potential to produce cyclic AMP was necessary to induce maximum steroid production, the relative activities of a series of analogs were the same for steroidogenesis as for cyclic AMP accumulation. Furthermore, the concentration of cyclic AMP necessary for full steroidogenesis was practically identical for a series of peptides that differed widely in potency. These findings support the postulate that cyclic AMP accumulation and steroidogenesis in adrenocortical cells are coupled processes. The differential behavior of bovine adrenal plasma membranes and bovine adrenocortical cells toward ACTH analogs indicates that structure-function studies using cyclase assays may not reflect events that take place in the intact adrenal or in cell preparations derived therefrom.     

Spironolactone inhibition of cortisol production by guinea pig adrenocortical cells

Prior investigations with adrenal subcellular fractions demonstrated that the diuretic, spironolactone (SL), was converted to a reactive metabolite by adrenal microsomes, resulting in the degradation of microsomal cytochrome(s) P-450. Studies were done to evaluate the effects of SL and 7 alpha-thio-SL, a putative intermediate in the activation pathway, on cortisol production by intact guinea pig adrenocortical cells. Preincubation of adrenal cells with SL or 7 alpha-thio-SL caused time-dependent and concentration-dependent decreases in subsequent ACTH-stimulated cortisol production. 7 alpha-Thio-SL was a far more potent inhibitor than SL. In the absence of a preincubation period, neither SL nor 7 alpha-thio-SL affected cortisol production. The results indicate that the effects of SL on adrenal microsomal cytochrome(s) P-450 compromise steroid synthesis by intact adrenal cells and lend support to the hypothesis that metabolism of the drug is required for the inhibition of steroidogenesis.     

Expression of steroidogenic enzyme messenger ribonucleic acid and cortisol production in adrenocortical cells isolated from halothane-sensitive and halothane-resistant pigs

Stress susceptibility in pigs is inherited by a single recessive gene (Hal(n)), and homozygous individuals can be identified by exposure to halothane anesthesia. Previous studies have shown that in stress-susceptible pigs, exposure to a high ambient temperature resulted in a twofold increase in corticotropin (ACTH) and lower plasma cortisol. To determine whether there is a fundamental difference in adrenocortical function between halothane-sensitive (HAL-S) and halothane-resistant (HAL-R) pigs, independent of other factors influencing the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, we compared cortisol responses to ACTH and 8-bromo-cyclic AMP (8-Br-cAMP) in HAL-S and HAL-R pig adrenocortical cells in vitro. We also determined directly the accumulation of four different mRNAs encoding cholesterol side-chain cleavage cytochrome P450 (P450(scc)), 17alpha-hydroxylase cytochrome P450 (P450(17alpha)), 21-hydroxylase cytochrome P450 (P450(c21)) and 11beta-hydroxylase cytochrome P450 (P450(11beta)) in HAL-S pig adrenal cells and compared them to HAL-R pigs. A time- and dose-dependent increase in medium content of cortisol and cAMP was observed after ACTH treatment. 8-Br-cAMP also caused a time- and dose-dependent increase in cortisol production in the medium. Addition of ACTH or 8-Br-cAMP to HAL-S and HAL-R male Lanyu small-ear miniature pig adrenocortical cells increased cortisol production in a dose- and time-related manner. However, cells isolated from HAL-S pigs had a lower cortisol production in response to ACTH or 8-Br-cAMP compared to those from HAL-R pigs. Treatment of cultured cells with 8-Br-cAMP (0.5 mM) for 18 h resulted in a significant increase in P450(scc), P450(17alpha), P450(c21), and P450(11beta) mRNA levels. In the absence of 8-Br-cAMP, the four genes were expressed constitutively in both HAL-S and HAL-R pig adrenal cells. Densitometric scanning of the autoradiograph indicated that the relative amounts of P450(scc) and P450(17(alpha)) mRNAs in HAL-S pig adrenal cells were between 48% and 53% of those detected in HAL-R pig adrenal cells (P < 0.05). No difference in the amounts of P450(c21) and P450(11beta) was seen in HAL-S and HAL-R pig adrenal cells. Addition of 8-Br-cAMP (0.5 mM) resulted in a uniform increase in the levels of all four P450 mRNAs in both HAL-S and HAL-R pig adrenal cells. However, the amounts of P450(scc) mRNA in HAL-S pig adrenal cells were 67% (P < 0.05) of those measured in HAL-R pig adrenal cells, whereas the amounts of P450(17alpha ), P450(c21), and P450(11beta) mRNAs were similar in these cells. Our data suggest an HPA axis defect in HAL-S pigs at the adrenal level. This defect appears to be at the level of P450scc gene expression, which could be partially related to reduced cortisol production by ACTH stimulation.     

Inhibition of ACTH action on cultured bovine adrenal cortical cells by 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin through a redistribution of cholesterol

The conversion of cholesterol to cortisol by cultured bovine adrenal cortical cells is stimulated 6-fold by adrenocorticotropin and is limited by the movement of cholesterol to the mitochondria (DiBartolomeis, M.J., and Jefcoate, C.R. (1984) J. Biol. Chem. 259, 10159-10167). Exposure of confluent cultures to the potent environmental toxicant, 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) (10(-8)M), for 24 h prior to adrenocorticotropin (ACTH) addition decreased the rate of ACTH-stimulated steroidogenesis but did not affect the basal rate. TCDD was more effective against stimulation at 10(-11) M ACTH (4-fold) than at 10(-7) M ACTH (10%), consistent with an increase in EC50 for ACTH. Stimulation of bovine adrenal cortical cells by cAMP was similarly decreased by TCDD. In both cases the effectiveness of TCDD increased with time of exposure to the stimulant. The transfer of cholesterol to mitochondria in intact cells was quantitated by means of the 2-h accumulation of mitochondrial cholesterol in the presence of aminoglutethimide, an inhibitor of cholesterol side chain cleavage. Although cholesterol accumulated in the presence of ACTH (13 to 28 micrograms/mg), pretreatment of cells with TCDD caused a decrease in mitochondrial cholesterol (13 to 8 micrograms/mg). The effect of TCDD was produced relatively rapidly (t1/2 approximately 4 h). In absence of TCDD, the mitochondria of ACTH-stimulated cells also eventually lose cholesterol (after 2 h). It is concluded that TCDD pretreatment may increase the presence of a protein(s) that cause mitochondrial cholesterol depletion when the cells are stimulated by ACTH or cAMP. TCDD-enhanced cholesterol efflux from mitochondria diminishes cholesterol side chain cleavage when mitochondrial cholesterol is sufficiently depleted (after 2-4 h).     

The enhancement of pregnenolone production as the main mechanism of the prolonged stimulatory effect of ACTH on cortisol production by guinea-pig adrenocortical cells

The prolonged stimulatory influence of corticotropin (ACTH) on the adrenocortical steroidogenic response to ACTH was studied in guinea-pig adrenocortical cells harvested from control and ACTH-treated animals (ACTH1-24, 50 micrograms s.c. twice daily on the day preceding the in vitro experiment). The maximal capacity to produce cortisol in response to ACTH (by 10(5) cells and 2 h incubation) was increased from 341.8 +/- 36.3 ng (control group) to 663.3 +/- 37.6 ng for cells obtained from guinea-pigs treated in vivo with ACTH. In the presence of trilostane, added to the cells in order to block the conversion of pregnenolone to cortisol, the net maximal output of pregnenolone and 17-hydroxypregnenolone in response to ACTH was significantly increased in adrenocortical cells from ACTH-treated animals (449.5 +/- 35.8 ng pregnenolone and 85.7 +/- 10.5 ng 17-hydroxypregnenolone vs 269.1 +/- 36.3 ng pregnenolone and 43.7 +/- 8.51 ng 17-hydroxypregnenolone for cells from control guinea-pigs). It appeared therefore that the total production of pregnenolone (as estimated by the sum of pregnenolone and 17-hydroxypregnenolone produced by the cells incubated with trilostane) nearly reached the level of the maximal production of cortisol in response to ACTH and was also significantly enhanced for cells from ACTH-treated animals (532.2 +/- 38.4 ng vs 312.8 +/- 40.0 ng for cells from control group). By contrast, no effect was documented on 17 alpha-hydroxylase activity since 17 alpha-hydroxylation index was similar for both types of adrenocortical cells (16.3 +/- 2.05% for ACTH-treated animals and 14.2 +/- 2.83% for control group). It was concluded therefore that the prolonged stimulatory influence of ACTH on pregnenolone production is the main mechanism of the enhancement of cortisol synthesis by guinea-pig adrenocortical cells previously stimulated by ACTH.     

Differential modulation of ACTH-stimulated cortisol and androstenedione secretion by insulin

Results of previous clinical studies suggested counter regulatory actions between insulin and DHEA(S). The present studies were performed using primary monolayer cultures of bovine fasciculata-reticularis cells to test the hypothesis that insulin directly affects adrenal androgen secretion. Although having no independent effect, insulin exhibited complex time- and concentration-specific actions on ACTH-stimulated secretion of both C21 (cortisol) and C19 (androstenedione) corticosteroids. In the presence of low concentrations (0.05-0.1 nM) of ACTH, cortisol secretion during a 2 h incubation was about 2-fold greater in the presence than in the absence of insulin (0.01-100 ng/ml). In the presence of a maximal concentration (10 nM) of ACTH, on the other hand, cortisol secretion was not affected by insulin at concentrations less than or equal to 0.1 ng/ml, but was decreased at higher insulin concentrations. ACTH-stimulated androstenedione secretion was not significantly affected by insulin during a short-term (2 h) incubation. During a prolonged (24 h) incubation, insulin produced a concentration-dependent inhibition of ACTH-stimulated cortisol secretion. At an insulin concentration of 100 ng/ml, ACTH (10 nM)-stimulated cortisol secretion declined to a level only 30% of that produced by ACTH alone. In contrast, insulin exhibited biphasic effects on the secretion of androstenedione by cells maintained in the presence of ACTH for 24 h; an effect that was most dramatic in the presence of a maximal concentration of ACTH. At an insulin concentration of 0.1 ng/ml, androstenedione secretion by cells maintained in the presence of 10 nM ACTH was increased approximately 2.5-fold. At higher concentrations of insulin, ACTH-stimulated androstenedione secretion was inhibited to an extent comparable to that in cortisol secretion. The effects of insulin on ACTH-stimulated cortisol and androstenedione secretion could not be accounted for by changes in steroid degradation or a loss in 11 beta-hydroxylase activity. These results indicate that insulin interacts with ACTH to modulate the secretion of both C21 and C19 corticosteroids and that physiological concentrations (less than or equal to 1 ng/ml) of insulin may have a long-term effect to enhance selectively adrenal androgen secretion. These data are consistent with a servo mechanism between insulin and DHEA(S) in vivo and indicate that the correlations observed clinically result, at least in part, from a direct action of insulin to modulate the rate of adrenal androgen production.