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Original Studies |
Service of Endocrinology (E.C., L.B., N.G.-P.), Department of Biochemistry (J.-G.L.), Faculty of Medicine, University of Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Québec, Canada J1H 5N4
Address all correspondence and requests for reprints to: Dr. Nicole Gallo-Payet, Service of Endocrinology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Sherbrooke, 3001 12th Avenue North, Sherbrooke, Québec, Canada J1H 5N4. E-mail: n.gallo{at}courrier.usherb.ca
The development of the human fetal adrenal gland is characterized by a
gradient of mitotic activity, cell migration, and cell apoptosis, all
of which dictate its particular function. Such plasticity may possibly
be under the control of the extracellular environment. The goal of this
study was to identify components of the extracellular matrix in
second-trimester fetal adrenal glands. Whereas collagen IV was
expressed evenly throughout the gland, both fibronectin and laminin
demonstrated a mirror-imaged distribution, with higher expression of
fibronectin in the central portion and laminin at the periphery of the
gland. The integrin subunit 
1 was found mainly in the definitive
zone and the 2-subunit mainly in the transitional zone, whereas
integrin 3 (which binds both fibronectin and laminin) was detected
only in the fetal zone. The ß2-subunit was observed solely in
chromaffin cells. Such specific gradients of integrin and MEC component
expression suggest that the extracellular environment does play a
definite role during adrenal gland development. Indeed, compared with
that in untreated plastic dishes, ACTH stimulation of
dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate and cortisol was enhanced by
collagen IV. In addition, fibronectin enhanced dehydroepiandrosterone
sulfate but decreased cortisol secretion, compared with collagen IV
substrates. These results provide fundamental insight into the
contribution of the microenvironment in cellular processes leading to
fetal adrenal gland development.
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