Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, Vol 75, 308-314, Copyright © 1992 by Endocrine Society

ARTICLES

Steroid hormone receptors in the adrenal glands of fetal and adult rhesus monkeys

JJ Hirst, NB West, RM Brenner and MJ Novy
Division of Reproductive Biology and Behavior, Oregon Regional Primate Research Center, Beaverton 97006.

Sex steroid hormone receptors have been identified in the adrenal glands of rodents and may have a role in adrenal function. The highly estrogenic environment during pregnancy has been proposed to influence steroidogenesis by the fetal zone of the primate fetal adrenal gland. In order to determine whether these effects involve receptor-mediated mechanisms, we have examined the concentration and distribution of estrogen receptor (ER), androgen receptor, and progesterone receptor (PR) in the adrenal glands of fetal, immature, and adult rhesus monkeys. Monoclonal antibodies were used for immunocytochemistry (ICC), and in a gradient shift assay, for determination of receptor distribution and concentrations, respectively. There was no difference between the concentrations of ER in the adrenal glands from male and female adult animals (12.4 +/- 2.2, n = 3 and 13.2 +/- 2.0 fmol/mg DNA, n = 7; respectively); however, the concentration of ER in the fetal adrenal glands was markedly lower than in the adults (combined adult 12.7 +/- 1.6, n = 10, and fetal 0.9 +/- 0.4 fmol/mg DNA, n = 7; P less than 0.01). The concentration of ER in the adrenal glands of immature animals was also lower compared to adult animals (6.1 +/- 1.6, n = 6, P less than 0.05). In the adult, ICC revealed that staining for ER was restricted to the cell nucleus and was most dense in the zone fasciculata, with lesser staining in the zona glomerulosa and zona reticularis, and with no detectable staining in the medulla. ER staining was virtually absent in the fetal zone which comprises the major portion of the fetal gland; however, some staining was observed in the narrow definitive zone. The distribution of androgen receptor was similar to that of ER, whereas there was no detectable staining for PR in the adrenals of either adult or fetal animals. We conclude: 1) that the lower concentration of ER in fetal adrenal glands is due to the absence of ER in the fetal zone; 2) the lack of ER and PR in the fetal zone suggests that estrogens and progestins do not influence the growth or function of the fetal zone by receptor-mediated mechanisms; 3) estrogens and androgens may influence the function of the adult adrenal cortex.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				P. de Cremoux, D. Rosenberg, J. Goussard, C. Bremont-Weil, F. Tissier, C. Tran-Perennou, L. Groussin, X. Bertagna, J. Bertherat, and M.-L. Raffin-Sanson Expression of progesterone and estradiol receptors in normal adrenal cortex, adrenocortical tumors, and primary pigmented nodular adrenocortical disease Endocr. Relat. Cancer, June 1, 2008; 15(2): 465 - 474. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. S. Baquedano, N. Saraco, E. Berensztein, C. Pepe, M. Bianchini, E. Levy, J. Goni, M. A. Rivarola, and A. Belgorosky Identification and Developmental Changes of Aromatase and Estrogen Receptor Expression in Prepubertal and Pubertal Human Adrenal Tissues J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., June 1, 2007; 92(6): 2215 - 2222. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				D Montanaro, M Maggiolini, A G Recchia, R Sirianni, S Aquila, L Barzon, F Fallo, S Ando, and V Pezzi Antiestrogens upregulate estrogen receptor {beta} expression and inhibit adrenocortical H295R cell proliferation J. Mol. Endocrinol., October 1, 2005; 35(2): 245 - 256. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				K. Toda, Y. Okada, M. Zubair, K.-i. Morohashi, T. Saibara, and T. Okada Aromatase-Knockout Mouse Carrying an Estrogen-Inducible Enhanced Green Fluorescent Protein Gene Facilitates Detection of Estrogen Actions in Vivo Endocrinology, April 1, 2004; 145(4): 1880 - 1888. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				Z. Wu, C. Maric, D. M. Roesch, W. Zheng, J. G. Verbalis, and K. Sandberg Estrogen Regulates Adrenal Angiotensin AT1 Receptors by Modulating AT1 Receptor Translation Endocrinology, July 1, 2003; 144(7): 3251 - 3261. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				E. D. Albrecht, J. S. Babischkin, W. A. Davies, M. G. Leavitt, and G. J. Pepe Identification and Developmental Expression of the Estrogen Receptor {alpha} and {beta} in the Baboon Fetal Adrenal Gland Endocrinology, December 1, 1999; 140(12): 5953 - 5961. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				A. Martinez, A.-M. Lefrançois-Martinez, M. Manin, S. Guyot, C. Jean-Faucher, G. Veyssière, A. Kahn, and C. Jean 5'-Flanking and Intragenic Sequences Confer Androgenic and Developmental Regulation of Mouse Aldose Reductase-Like Gene in Vas Deferens and Adrenal in Transgenic Mice Endocrinology, March 1, 1999; 140(3): 1338 - 1348. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				J. S. Gell, J. Oh, W. E. Rainey, and B. R. Carr Effect of Estradiol on DHEAS Production in the Human Adrenocortical Cell Line, H295R Reproductive Sciences, May 1, 1998; 5(3): 144 - 148. [Abstract] [PDF]

				S. M. Slayden, L. Crabbe, S. Bae, H. D. Potter, R. Azziz, and C. R. Parker Jr. The Effect of 17{beta}-Estradiol on Adrenocortical Sensitivity, Responsiveness, and Steroidogenesis in Postmenopausal Women J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., February 1, 1998; 83(2): 519 - 524. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				H. C. Atkinson and B. J. Waddell Circadian Variation in Basal Plasma Corticosterone and Adrenocorticotropin in the Rat: Sexual Dimorphism and Changes across the Estrous Cycle Endocrinology, September 1, 1997; 138(9): 3842 - 3848. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. Mesiano and R. B. Jaffe Developmental and Functional Biology of the Primate Fetal Adrenal Cortex Endocr. Rev., June 1, 1997; 18(3): 378 - 403. [Abstract] [Full Text]