Glucocorticoids and mineralocorticoids are steroid hormones classically thought to be secreted exclusively by the adrenal glands. However, recent evidence has shown that corticosteroids can also be locally synthesized in various other tissues, including primary lymphoid organs, intestine, skin, brain, and possibly heart. Evidence for local synthesis includes detection of steroidogenic enzymes a...

Insm1 (IA-1) encodes a Zn-finger factor that is expressed in the developing nervous system. We demonstrate here that the development of the sympatho-adrenal lineage is severely impaired in Insm1 mutant mice. Differentiation of sympatho-adrenal precursors, as assessed by the expression of neuronal subtype-specific genes such as Th and Dbh, is delayed in a pronounced manner, which is accompanied ...

In the adrenal tumor cell system ganglioside Gm1 inhibited cholera enterotoxin (CT)-induced steroidogenesis if it was preincubated with the toxin or added to adrenal cells 10 min before CT. In the preincubation studies a molar ratio of Gm1 to toxin of 3:1 was necessary for half-maximal inhibition of steroidogenesis. On the other hand, horse serum anticholeragenoid neutralized the steroidogenic ...

Synchronisation of the circadian system The biological clock within the SCN is thought to be the pacemaker of the circadian system, since lesions to the SCN alter circadian physiology and behaviour. The SCN co-ordinates circadian rhythms via endocrine and neural pathways. These include melatonin, the renin-angiotensin system, the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis including cortisol, and the h...

Chronic isolation of adult animals represents a form of psychological stress that produces sympatho-adrenomedullar activation. Exercise training acts as an important modulator of sympatho-adrenomedullary system. This study aimed to investigate physical exercise-related changes in gene expression of catecholamine biosynthetic enzymes (tyrosine hydroxylase, dopamine-ß-hydroxylase and phenylethano...

19-Nor-deoxycorticosterone (19-nor-DOC), a hypertensinogenic mineralocorticoid, equipotent with aldosterone and independent of the renin-angiotensin system, is synthesized in the kidney and excreted in excess in the urine of patients with aldosterone-producing adenomas. This current study evaluated the adrenal and renal venous levels of aldosterone and 19-nor-DOC after adrenal and renal venous ...

background: congenital adrenal hyperplasia (cah, the inherited inability to synthesize cortisol) is one of the most common (1 in 10000 to 1 in 15000) autosomal recessive disorders. more than 95% of cases of cah are caused by 21-hydroxylase deficiency (21-ohd). females with severe, classic 21-ohd are exposed to excess androgens prenatally and are born with virilized external genitalia. most pati...

background: sickle-cell anemia is characterized by defective hemoglobin synthesis with production of sickle hemoglobin. sickle red blood cells become deformed and rigid with difficulty to pass through narrow capillaries and frequent clotting and thrombosis leading to repetitive vascular occlusions and progressive organ damage. we conducted this work to study some adrenal functions using acth st...

objective: in the present study, we examined the effects of memantine administration within the nucleus accumbens on the alterations in brain and adrenal volumes and weight ratios induced by stress from electric foot shock. methods: a group of mice received various doses of memantine (0.1, 0.5 and 1 mg/kg) prior to induction of stress. another group underwent intra-accumbal cannulation after an...