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  • Title: Effects of pro-opiomelanocortin-derived peptides on adrenal steroidogenesis in guinea-pig adrenal cells in vitro.
    Author: O'Connell Y, McKenna TJ, Cunningham SK.
    Journal: J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol; 1993 Jan; 44(1):77-83. PubMed ID: 8381015.
    Abstract:
    The specific control of adrenal androgen secretion is unclear. This study was undertaken to investigate the effects of peptides derived from the ACTH precursor molecule pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) on cortisol and androgen production using isolated guinea-pig adrenal cells. ACTH 10(-13)-10(-9)M, stimulated steroid production in a dose dependent manner, reaching a maximum of 12, 10 and 7 times basal levels for cortisol, androstenedione (A4) and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), respectively, measured by specific radioimmunoassays. beta-Lipotropin (beta-LPH), 10(-10)-10(-8) M, also stimulated steroid production, reaching 6, 5 and 5 times basal levels of cortisol, A4 and DHEA, respectively. The N-terminal 16K fragment, gamma 3- and beta-MSH stimulated steroid production which reached statistical significance (P < 0.05) only in the case of cortisol. Joining peptide, alpha-, beta- and gamma-endorphin resulted in no significant change in steroid production. Met- and leu-enkephalin resulted in significant inhibition of DHEA production. POMC-derived peptides altered the steroid response to ACTH. beta-LPH and 16K fragment significantly increased the cortisol and A4 responses to a low concentration of ACTH. beta-LPH reduced the maximum cortisol and A4 responses to a high concentration of ACTH. This study suggests that beta-LPH may have a role in modulation of adrenal steroidogenesis but yielded no evidence to support a role for POMC-derived peptides in preferential stimulation of adrenal androgen production in guinea-pig adrenal cells.
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