help button home button Endocrine Society JCEM
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
This Article
Right arrow Submit a related Letter to the Editor
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when eLetters are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow Request Copyright Permission
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Simpson, E. R.
Right arrow Articles by MacDonald, P. C.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Simpson, E. R.
Right arrow Articles by MacDonald, P. C.

Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, Vol 49, 146-148, Copyright © 1979 by Endocrine Society

ARTICLES

The role of serum lipoproteins in steroidogenesis by the human fetal adrenal cortex

ER Simpson, BR Carr, CR Parker Jr, L Milewich, JC Porter and PC MacDonald

In the present investigation it was found that human fetal adrenal tissue maintained in organ culture secreted appreciable quantities of dehydroisoandrosterone sulfate (DS) and cortisol. Pregnenolone was also secreted in significant amounts, principally as the sulfate ester. The highest rate of secretion of these steroids by fetal adrenal tissue occurred when both ACTH and whole human serum were present in the culture medium. In the absence of ACTH, steroid secretion was low. When whole serum was replaced by lipoprotein-poor serum, the steroidogenic response to ACTH was markedly attenuated but not abolished. On the basis of these findings, it is concluded (1) that the human fetal adrenal can synthesize steroid hormones de novo from cholesterol, (2) that ACTH is an important stimulant of steroidogenesis by the human fetal adrenal, and (3) that plasma lipoproteins are a major source of the cholesterol utilized by the human fetal adrenal for steroidogenesis. Hence, it is likely that factors which regulate the production of fetal plasma lipoproteins are important determinants of fetal adrenal steroidogenic activity.


This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 J. Physiol.Home page
C. Torres-Farfan, H. G. Richter, A. M. Germain, G. J. Valenzuela, C. Campino, P. Rojas-Garcia, M. L. Forcelledo, F. Torrealba, and M. Seron-Ferre
Maternal melatonin selectively inhibits cortisol production in the primate fetal adrenal gland
J. Physiol., February 1, 2004; 554(3): 841 - 856.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 EndocrinologyHome page
G. W. Aberdeen, J. S. Babischkin, W. A. Davies, G. J. Pepe, and E. D. Albrecht
Decline in Adrenocorticotropin Receptor Messenger Ribonucleic Acid Expression in the Baboon Fetal Adrenocortical Zone in the Second Half of Pregnancy
Endocrinology, April 1, 1997; 138(4): 1634 - 1641.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 ScienceHome page
C. Parker Jr, E. Simpson, D. Bilheimer, K Leveno, B. Carr, and P. MacDonald
Inverse relation between low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol and dehydroisoandrosterone sulfate in human fetal plasma
Science, May 2, 1980; 208(4443): 512 - 514.
[Abstract] [PDF]


HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
Endocrinology Endocrine Reviews J. Clin. End. & Metab.
Molecular Endocrinology Recent Prog. Horm. Res. All Endocrine Journals
Copyright © 1979 by The Endocrine Society