Activins and inhibins are structurally related glycoprotein hormones modulating pituitary FSH secretion and gonadal steroidogenesis. Activins and inhibins are also produced in the adrenal cortex where their physiological role is poorly known. Hormonally active human adrenocortical tumors express and secrete inhibins, while in mice adrenal inhibins may function as tumor suppressors. To clarify t...

AIM  Glucocorticoids (GCs) are often used for the treatment of rheumatic disorders. However, doses are prescribed, which may suppress the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. After GC withdrawal, recovery of the HPA axis may be delayed putting the patient at risk for adrenal insufficiency. We assessed adrenal function and factors influencing adrenal responsiveness after termination of GC ...

Background: Adrenal gland is an important endocrine that secrets several hormones play a key role in the adaptation of newborn to extra uterine life. The study was conducted explore histomorphological development adrenal glands Gohilwadi Goat (Capra hircus). Methods: research work carried out on twenty pair goat collected from local abattoir. animals were divided into three age groups, viz. gro...

The orphan nuclear receptor Ad4BP/SF-1 (adrenal 4 binding protein/steroidogenic factor 1) is essential for the proper development and function of reproductive and steroidogenic tissues. Although the expression of Ad4BP/SF-1 is specific for those tissues, the mechanisms underlying this tissue-specific expression remain unknown. In this study, we used transgenic mouse assays to examine the regula...

The adrenal cortex is divided into concentric zones. In humans the major cortical zones are the zona glomerulosa, zona fasciculata, and zona reticularis. The adrenal cortex is a dynamic organ in which senescent cells are replaced by newly differentiated ones. This constant renewal facilitates organ remodeling in response to physiological demand for steroids. Cortical zones can reversibly expand...

Purpose. The interaction of hormones of the pituitary-adrenal axis and adrenal cortex-associated circulating microRNAs is mostly unknown. We have studied the effects of dexamethasone and adrenocorticotropin on the expression of five circulating microRNAs (hsa-miR-27a, hsa-miR-200b, hsa-miR-214, hsa-miR-483-5p, and hsa-miR-503) reported to be related to the adrenal cortex in plasma samples. Meth...

The discharge of cholesterol, ascorbic acid, and histologically demonstrable lipides from the adrenal glands is generally regarded as evidence of increased activity of these glands during stress (l-5). These changes were also produced upon injection of purified corticotropin (6). However, in the detailed study of Fortier et al. (7) it was shown that corticotropin (ACTH) alone cannot account for...

The fact that depletion of sodium and of chloride may occur in acute porphyria, in the absence of alkalosis due to vomiting, has recently been noted independently by Abrahams, Gavey and Maclagan (1) and by Linder (2). These authors suggested that a possible basis for this deficiency was that of adrenal cortical failure, but the response of their two patients to substitution therapy with cortica...

A large number of chemicals are known to interfere with steroidogenesis in the adrenal cortex and other tissues. Many xenobiotics inhibit steroid hormone production as a result of interactions with cytochrome P-450-containing hydroxylases in adrenal mitochondria or microsomes. For example, metyrapone, a compound used clinically in the evaluation of pituitary-adrenocortical function, binds to va...

AIMS Data on differences in clinical characteristics and management of COPD in different countries and settings are limited. We aimed to characterize the profile of patients with COPD in a number of countries and their treatment in order to evaluate adherence to recommendations of international guidelines. METHOD This was an observational, international, cross-sectional study on patients with...