Occurrence and Effect of PACAP in the Human Fetal Adrenal Gland

Abstract: In the study reported in this paper, we characterized PACAP in the human fetal adrenal gland and we investigated the effect of PACAP on steroid secretion from cultured fetal adrenal cells. The adrenal gland from 20‐week‐old fetuses contained substantial concentrations of PACAP‐immunoreactive material (88.6 ng/g wet tissue). HPLC analysis of adrenal extracts revealed the presence of both PACAP27 and PACAP38, the latter being the predominant form. Incubation of cultured fetal adrenal cells with PACAP38 (10−7 M) significantly increased cortisol and DHEAS secretion. Administration of the β‐adrenoreceptor agonist isoproterenol mimicked the stimulatory effect of PACAP on both steroid secretion whereas preincubation of fetal cells with the β‐adrenoreceptor antagonist propranolol suppressed the steroidogenic effect of PACAP. These data, together with the observation that PACAP receptors are exclusively located on chromaffin cells, suggest that, in the fetal human adrenal gland, the effect of PACAP on steroid secretion is mediated via the local release of catecholamines.

[1]  H. Vaudry,et al.  Localization, characterization, and second messenger coupling of pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide receptors in the fetal human adrenal gland during the second trimester of gestation. , 1998, The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism.

[2]  L. Malendowicz,et al.  Comparative stereological studies on zonation and cellular composition of adrenal glands of normal and anencephalic human fetuses. II. Cellular composition of the gland. , 1997, Histology and histopathology.

[3]  V. Bodart,et al.  Comparative Effect of Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase-Activating Polypeptide on Aldosterone Secretion in Normal Bovine and Human Tumorous Adrenal Cells. , 1997, Endocrinology.

[4]  L. Malendowicz,et al.  Stereology of human fetal adrenal medulla. , 1996, Histology and histopathology.

[5]  K. Isobe,et al.  Pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide induces gene expression of the catecholamine synthesizing enzymes, tyrosine hydroxylase and dopamine β hydroxylase, through 3′, 5′-cyclic adenosine monophosphate- and protein kinase C-dependent mechanisms in cultured porcine adrenal medullary chroma , 1996, Neuropeptides.

[6]  A. Tischler,et al.  Mitogenic and antimitogenic effects of pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) in adult rat chromaffin cell cultures , 1995, Neuroscience Letters.

[7]  S. Gammeltoft,et al.  Neuronal localization of pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide 38 in the adrenal medulla and growth-inhibitory effect on chromaffin cells , 1995, Neuroscience.

[8]  M. Feuilloley,et al.  Pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide stimulates both adrenocortical cells and chromaffin cells in the frog adrenal gland. , 1994, Endocrinology.

[9]  D. Przywara,et al.  Exocytosis from a single rat chromaffin cell by cholinergic and peptidergic neurotransmitters , 1994, Neuroscience.

[10]  A. Tabarin,et al.  Pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating peptide in the adrenal gland of mammals: distribution, characterization and responses to drugs. , 1994, Neuroendocrinology.

[11]  M. Feuilloley,et al.  Localization, characterization and activity of pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide in the frog adrenal gland. , 1993, The Journal of endocrinology.

[12]  A. De Léan,et al.  Comparative effect of pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide on aldosterone secretion in normal bovine and human tumorous adrenal cells. , 1997, Endocrinology.

[13]  G. Nussdorfer,et al.  Pituitary adenylate-cyclase activating peptide enhances aldosterone secretion of human adrenal gland: evidence for an indirect mechanism, probably involving the local release of catecholamines. , 1996, The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism.

[14]  G. Nussdorfer.  Cytophysiology of the adrenal cortex. , 1986, International review of cytology.