POD-1/Tcf21 overexpression reduces endogenous SF-1 and StAR expression in rat adrenal cells

During gonad and adrenal development, the POD-1/capsulin/TCF21transcription factor negatively regulates SF-1/NR5A1expression, with higher SF-1 levels being associated with increased adrenal cell proliferation and tumorigenesis. In adrenocortical tumor cells, POD-1 binds to the SF-1 E-box promoter region, decreasing SF-1 expression. However, the modulation of SF-1 expression by POD-1 has not previously been described in normal adrenal cells. Here, we analyzed the basal expression of Pod-1 and Sf-1 in primary cultures of glomerulosa (G) and fasciculata/reticularis (F/R) cells isolated from male Sprague-Dawley rats, and investigated whether POD-1 overexpression modulates the expression of endogenous Sf-1 and its target genes in these cells. POD-1 overexpression, following the transfection of pCMVMycPod-1, significantly decreased the endogenous levels of Sf-1 mRNA and protein in F/R cells, but not in G cells, and also decreased the expression of the SF-1 target StAR in F/R cells. In G cells overexpressing POD-1, no modulation of the expression of SF-1 targets, StAR and CYP11B2, was observed. Our data showing that G and F/R cells respond differently to ectopic POD-1 expression emphasize the functional differences between the outer and inner zones of the adrenal cortex, and support the hypothesis that SF-1 is regulated by POD-1/Tcf21 in normal adrenocortical cells lacking the alterations in cellular physiology found in tumor cells.

To observe and compare the histological features of fat induced adrenal cortex in albino rats

To observe and compare the histological features of fat induced adrenal cortex in albino rats. Prospective experimental study. Department of anatomy, Basic Medical Sciences Institute, Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre, Karachi from August 2008 to October 2008. Twenty, young, male albino rats were selected for this study and were divided into 2 groups. Group A served as control and received normal diet. Group B received high-fat diet with 20 gms of saturated fat in the form of unsalted dairy butter per 100 gms of diet. Both groups were further divided into two Al and A2, B1 and B2 according to period of study i.e. 4 and 6 weeks respectively. On completion of experimental period, animals were weighed then sacrificed. Adrenal glands were removed, weighed and processed for paraffin sectioning. Haematoxylin and eosin staining was done for histological study. Cortical zones examined for apparent zonal hypertrophy, and cellular and nuclear changes. Increase in body weight and weight of Adrenal glands were highly significant [P<0.001]. Apparent increase in zona fasciculata observed was consistent with increased activity of gland. Cells in this zone appeared vacuolated due to presence of fat. In some areas of zona glomerulosa pyknosis and distortion of cell out line seen. High-fat diet induces increase in body weight and weight of adrenal gland which were due to hypertrophied zona fasciculata mainly, suggesting that these findings lead to increased activity and secretion of glucocorticoids

light and electron microscopic study of the effect of dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate on myocardium and adrenal zona reticularis of aged male albino rats

Aging is associated with a progressive decline of plasma levels of dehydroepiandrosterone [DHEA] and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate [DHEAS]. The present work studied the effect of DHEAS administration on the age related histological changes in the myocardium of the heart [being implicated in increased death rate from cardiovascular diseases in the elderly] and in the adrenal zona reticularis [being the major source of DHEA and DHEAS secretion]. Thirty male albino rats were divided into three groups; ten animals each. Group I was the control adult group [6-months age], group II was the control aged group [24-months age], and group III was the treated aged group [24-months age] that received DHEAS orally in a dose of 0.05 mg/rat/day for one month. Specimens from the left ventricle of the heart and from the suprarenal gland were taken from all groups and prepared for light and electron microscopic examination. In control aged group, the myocardium exhibited disorganization of cardiac myocytes and an increase in collagen fibers. Many cardiac myocytes had deeply stained nuclei with increased heterochromatin. Their sarcoplasm showed variable staining intensity, ill defined cross striations, marked degeneration of the mitochondria and increased intermyofibrillar spaces. Other cardiac myocytes appeared relatively with more or less normal light and electron microscopic structure. The cells of adrenal zona reticularis of control aged animals showed irregularity and deeply stained nuclei, in addition to decreased frequency of mitochondria and accumulation of lipid droplets in their cytoplasm. After DHEAS administration, there was a marked reduction in the age related histological changes of both the myocardium and adrenal zona reticularis. The myocardium of DHEAS treated aged animals showed regular arrangement of cardiac myocytes with comparative decrease in appearance of collagen fibers compared to the control aged group. Many cardiac myocytes had relatively normal appearance of their nuclei and sarcoplasm with prominent cross striations, regular organization of myofibrils and less degenerative changes in the mitochondria compared to those of the control aged group. Most zona reticularis cells of DHEAS treated animals had rounded nuclei and relatively normal appearance of their cytoplasm with increased frequency of mitochondria and decreased content of lipid compared to those of the control aged group. The mechanism of action of DHEAS as an antiaging steroid has been discussed. The preventive effect of DHEAS against age related structural changes [although incomplete prevention] is promising of its use as replacement therapy in elderly people to prevent, delay or attenuate the cardiac disorders which accompany aging and to improve the enzymatic activities and endocrine function of adrenal zona reticularis, thus, promote improvement of health with aging

Effects of infrasound on activities of 3beta hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase and acid phosphatase of polygonal cells in adrenal cortex zona fasciculate in mice / 中华劳动卫生职业病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the biological effects of infrasound on the polygonal cells in adrenal cortex zona fasciculation in mice.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The biological effects of infrasound on the activities of 3beta hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3-betaHSDH) and acid phosphatase(ACP) of the polygonal cells in adrenal cortex zona fasciculate were observed when exposure to 8 and 16 Hz infrasound at 80, 90, 100, 110, 120 and 130 dB for 1 day, 7 days and 14 days or 14 days after the exposure.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>When exposure to 8 Hz infrasound, the enzyme activities of 3-betaHSDH increase as the sound pressure levels increase. Only when the sound pressure levels reach 130 dB, the enzyme activities began to decrease exceptionally. When exposure to 16 Hz, 80 dB infrasound, no significant difference between the treatment and control group in the activities of 3-betaHSDH could be observed, but the injury of the polygonal cells had appeared. When exposure to 16 Hz, 100 dB infrasound, the activities of 3-betaHSDH started to increase. The cell injury still existed. When exposed to 16 Hz, 120 dB infrasound, the local tissue damage represented. Fourteen days after the mice exposure to 8 Hz, 90 dB and 130 dB infrasound for 14 days continuously, the local tissue injury of the adrenal cortex zona fasciculation began to recover at certain extent, but the higher the exposure sound pressure level, the poorer the tissue recovery.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The biological effects of infrasound on the polygonal cells in adrenal cortex zona fasciculation response to the frequency of the infrasound are found at certain action strength range, but this characteristic usually is covered by the severe tissue injury. When exposure to infrasound is stopped for a period of time, the local tissue injury of the adrenal cortex zona fasciculation could recovers at certain extent, but the higher the exposure sound pressure level, the more poorer the tissue recovery.</p>

Presentación inusual de un caso de acropigmentación reticulada de Kitamura / Unusual presentation of reticulated acrodermatitis of Kitamura

Se presenta el caso de un paciente varón de 37 años de edad con la aparición progresiva de máculas hiperpigmentadas reticulares en el dorso de manos, pies y en pliegues axilares, asintomáticas y con 15 años de evolución. La acropigmentación reticulada de Kitamura (ARK) es un trastorno pigmentario autosómico dominante. Recientemente, se han descrito diversos casos de ARK que también presentan lesiones características de la enfermedad de Dowling-Degos, por lo cual, se ha propuesto que ambas condiciones son una misma entidad.

Cistos adrenais: revisäo da literatura / Adrenal cysts: literature review

Os cistos adrenais säo rara condiçäo clínica, pouco conhecida, de modo geral. Realizamos revisäo da literatura sobre Cistos Adrenais, considerando os aspectos de incidência, classificaçäo, quadro clínico, exames complementares, diagnóstico diferencial e tratamento.

Artérias e segmentos anátomo-cirúrgicos da glândula adrenal em fetos de búfalos (Bubalus bubalis) / Arteries and anatomic-surgical segments of the adrenal glands in fetuses of buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis)

As artérias e os segmentos anátomo-cirúrgicos das glândulas adrenais em 30 fetos de búfalos foram estudados mediante o preenchimento do sistema arterial de cada animal com látex-Neoprene corado e dissecaçäo. Verificou-se que à direita, a glândula é irrigada por nove vasos diferentes, e à esquerda por oito fontes diversas. O número de segmentos anátomo-cirúrgicos variou de cinco a 11, sendo que à direita o número mais freqüente foi de três (60,0 por cento) e à esquerda três ou quatro (63,3 por cento)

Hérnia inguinal em crianças: associaçäo com restos de adrenal / Hernia inguinal in children: association with adrenal remmants

Um caso de restos de adrenal encontrados no cordäo espermático de um lactente de dois meses, submetidos à herniorrafia inguinal direita, é relatado. Comentários säo feitos sobre os fatores determinantes do aparecimento de hérnia inguinal em crianças e sobre a frequencia de restos de adrenal no cordäo espermático. A conduta do envio sistemático para histopatologia de tecido ectópico no canal inguinal de crianças submetidas à exploraçäo cirúrgica é padronizada

Experimental Studies on the Influence of Testosterone into Pituitary Anterior Lobe, Thymus, Adrenal Gland and Testis / 대한비뇨기과학회지

White rabbits weighing about 2kg, divided in 2 groups: the first group is administered with 5 mg, of testosterone propionate and second group administered with 50mg. The animals are killed after one, two and three weeks of administration from each group. Pituitary gland, thymus, adrenal gland and testis are removed and cut into thin preparation followed by staining with homatoxylin-eosin and van Gieson. The slides are examined microscopically and the results are as follows: 1) The chief cells and basophilic cells of anterior lobe of pituitary gland showed slight degeneration alone with vascular dilatation and congestion. s a whole, the group of massive dose revealed more severe degeneration than in the other group. 2) Thymus manifested marked congestion and severe hemorrhage, interlobular connective tissue proliferation and atrophic change in the cortex and medulla with fatty degeneration. In the group administered with massive dose, the changes are more remarkable. 3) In the adrenal gland, whole layers of cortex revealed cloudy swelling and hyaline degeneration. The cells of zona reticularis showed marked congestion. In the massive dose group, these changes are slightly more emphasized. 4) In the testis, germ cells and Sertoli cells are undergoing cloudy swelling and thickening of the basement membrane, and decreased spermatogenesis. In the group of massive dose, the changes are more prominent.