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Growth Hormone Receptor Messenger Ribonucleic Acid in Normal and Pathologic Human Adrenocortical Tissues—An Analysis by Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction Technique¹

Research Laboratory of Department of Internal Medicine (C.J.L., B.B.M., I.C.M.G, W.N., S.M.F.V.), Division of Endocrinology, and Division of Urology (A.M.L.), Hospital das Clínicas, School of Medicine, University of São Paulo, Caixa Postal 8091,CEP 01065–970, São Paulo, Brazil

Address all correspondence and requests for reprints to: Chin Jia Lin, Research Laboratory of Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Hospital das Clínicas, School of Medicine, University of São Paulo, Caixa Postal 8091,CEP 01065–970, São Paulo, Brazil.

GH receptor (GHR) has been reported to express in both normal rat and human adrenals. However, no study examined GHR expression in diseased human adrenal cortex. We quantitated, with RT-PCR, GHR messenger RNA (mRNA) in both normal and diseased human adrenal cortex with the following results: GHR mRNA levels in four histologically normal, not steroid-stimulated, control adrenal cortices was 1.5–11 x 10⁴ molecules/µg total RNA; in three diffusely hyperplastic adrenals (DH): 6.7–17.7 x 10⁴; in two nonfunctioning tumors (NF): 0.84–1.9 x 10⁴; in five androgen-producing neoplasms (AP): 4.6–34 x 10⁴; and in five glucocorticoid-producing neoplasms (GP): 6.7–87 x 10⁴. GHR transcript levels among adrenal cortices, DH, NF, AP, and GP reached statistically significant difference (P < 0.03). The GP group exhibited higher GHR mRNA levels than controls (P < 0.006). NF, as well as GP and AP, tumors had less GHR mRNA than their histologically normal adjacent cortex (P < 0.05). A positive correlation between urinary cortisol and GHR messenger RNA (mRNA) levels from GP and DH was observed (r = 0.93, P < 0.003).

Our data suggest that GHR is expressed in both normal and diseased adrenal cortex and that GHR mRNA accumulation is less efficient in adrenocortical neoplasm than their adjacent nonneoplastic cortex. GHR expression in adrenal cortex provides an evidence of direct GH action in this tissue.

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