Gonadectomy-related adrenocortical tumors in ferrets demonstrate increased expression of androgen and estrogen synthesizing enzymes together with high inhibin expression.

The 2 objectives of this study were to (1) measure by quantitative polymerase chain reaction the expression of genes involved in steroid and inhibin synthesis in adrenocortical tumors of gonadectomized ferrets and (2) localize by immunohistochemistry several proteins that are key to adrenal steroidogenesis. Relative to the control adrenals, expression of the messenger RNAs encoding StAR (steroidogenic acute regulatory protein; P = 0.039), CYP11A (P = 0.019), CYP21 (P = 0.01), and 3ß-HSD (P = 0.004), all involved in the synthesis of mineralocorticoids and glucocorticoids, were decreased in the adrenocortical tumors. In contrast, expression of cytochrome B5 (CytB5; P = 0.0001) and aromatase (P = 0.003), involved in androgen and estrogen synthesis, and both inhibin α-subunit (P = 0.002) and ßB-subunit (P = 0.001) were upregulated. In tumors, immunostaining of CYP21 was low, whereas staining of Cyp17 and CytB5, necessary for androgen synthesis, was present. It is concluded that ferret adrenocortical tumors express genes for androgen production. In addition, the expression of aromatase and inhibin suggests an even more gonadal differentiation, which is reminiscent to the fact that both gonads and adrenals are derived from a common urogenital primordial cell.

Appropriate training for northern physicians.

It remains difficult to find appropriately trained physicians to work in isolated northern areas. Urban-based family medicine programs have not been able to provide appropriate training. The Northern Family Medicine Education (NorFam) Program of Memorial University of Newfoundland was created to fill this need. This paper reviews the NorFam Program and discusses current practice locations and the relevance of the program as reported by its graduates. From 1993 to 1995, the NorFam Program trained 14 residents. The residents participate in a variety of educational and training activities--all chosen to be as relevant to northern practice as possible. When the graduates were surveyed, nine had remained in northern/remote or rural practice and three were doing further medical training. All respondents reported that the NorFam Program gave them more relevant training for northern practice than they would have received in an urban-based family medicine program.