| Abstract: | 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. |
