Participation of cyclic nucleotides, protein kinase A and C in realization of n-acylethanolamine action in human adrenocortical cells

The messenger mechanisms mediating N-acylethanolamines (NAE) regulatory signals in the adrenal cortex were studied. An analysis of the mechanisms of realization of NAE effects in the post-operation human adrenal cortex was carried out in vitro. Influence of NAE mix on cAMP and cGMP level, protein kinase A and C activity in sub-cellular fraction of adrenocorticocytes and homogenates of conditionally normal adrenal cortex tissues was investigated. It was shown, that N-acylethanolamines treatment resulted in a decrease of cAMP level in adrenocortical cells. cGMP level is not changed in these conditions. The rise of protein kinase C activity was obtained in the membrane fraction after N-acylethanolamines in vitro treatment (3.3 microg/ml). Activity of cAMP-dependent protein kinase A significantly decreased in cytosol fraction of adrenocorticocytes. It was concluded, that steroid genesis activation is determined by protein kinase C activation, inhibition is determined by cAMP-dependent messenger system.