Investigations on the turnover of adrenocortical mitochnodria. VII. Effects of ACTH on the half-life of mitochondria from the zona reticularis of the rat adrenal cortex.

The half-life of mitochondria from the zona reticularis of the rat adrenal was calculated by determining the radioactivity decay curves of the mitochondrial compartment of 3H-thymidine-injected animals, using autoradiographic methods. ACTH was found to enchance significantly the half-life of the organelles.     

Effect of ACTH on the zona reticularis of the rat adrenal cortex: an ultrastructural stereologic study.

The effects of ACTH on the rat adrenal zona reticularis were investigated by stereologic methods. It was found that the zona reticularis cell responsiveness to ACTH is similar to that of the zona fasciculata elements. This excludes that the zona reticularis of the adult rat can only function as the site of destruction of worn-out elements migrating from the adrenal outer zones.     

Effect of ACTH on the zona reticularis of the rat adrenal cortex: An ultrastructural stereologic study

Summary The effects of ACTH on the rat adrenalzona reticularis were investigated by stereologic methods. It was found that thezona reticularis cell responsiveness to ACTH is similar to that of thezona fasciculata elements. This excludes that thezona reticularis of the adult rat can only function as the site of destruction of worn-out elements migrating from the adrenal outer zones.Acknowledgment. We wish to thank Mr.G. Gottardo for his skilled technical assistance. This work was partly supported by a contract with the CNR No. C.T.73.00663.04.     

Investigations into the effects of ACTH on the half-life of mitochondrial proteins in the rat adrenal cortex.

ACTH elongates the half-life of the mitochondrial proteins from the rat adrenal cortex, and chloramphenicol inhibits this effect of ACTH. The hypothesis is advanced that the ACTH-provoked stabilization of the adrenocortical mitochondrial proteins requires continuous mitochondrial DNA-dependent protein synthesis.     

Investigations into the effects of ACTH on the half-life of mitochondrial proteins in the rat adrenal cortex

Summary ACTH elongates the half-life of the mitochondrial proteins from the rat adrenal cortex, and chloramphenicol inhibits this effect of ACTH. The hypothesis is advanced that the ACTH-provoked stabilization of the adrenocortical mitochondrial proteins requires continuous mitochondrial DNA-dependent protein synthesis.     

Effects of ACTH and diabetes on phospholipid metabolism in adrenal mitochondria.

Incorporation of 32P into adrenal mitochondrial phospholipids (PL) incrased in ACTH-treated rats, but it decreased in diabetics, inspite of the fact that these animals showed adrenal overacity. Since diabetics did not show increased 11 beta-hydroxylation. as opposed to ACTH-treated rats, it is suggested that the stimulation of this enzyme activity by exogenous ACTH is related to an increased turnover of PL at the mitochondrial membrane. The process is impaired in diabetics and prevents the stimulation of 11 beta-hydroxylation.     

Effects of ACTH and diabetes on phospholipid metabolism in adrenal mitochondria

Summary Incorporation of 32P into adrenal mitochondrial phospholipids (PL) increased in ACTH-treated rats, but it decreased in diabetics, inspite of the fact that these animals showed adrenal overactivity. Since diabetics did not show increased 11 -hydroxylation, as opposed to ACTH-treated rats, it is suggested that the stimulation of this enzyme activity by exogenous ACTH is related to an increased turnover of PL at the mitochondrial membrane. This process is impaired in diabetics and prevents the stimulation of 11 -hydroxylation.     

Effects of chronic treatment with ACTH on the intracellular levels of cyclic-AMP and cyclic-GMP in the rat adrenal cortex.

The effects of chronic ACTH treatment on the increase in the intracellular concentration of cyclic-AMP and cyclic-GMP acutely elicited by ACTH in the rat adrenal cortex were investigated. The results are consistent with the hypothesis that chronic ACTH treatment stimulates a) the de novo synthesis of adenylate- and guanylate-cyclase or b) the synthesis of new specific membrane receptors for ACTH.     

Effects of chronic treatment with ACTH on the intracellular levels of cyclic-AMP and cyclic-GMP in the rat adrenal cortex

Summary The effects of chronic ACTH treatment on the increase in the intracellular concentration of cyclic-AMP and cyclic-GMP acutely elicited by ACTH in the rat adrenal cortex were investigated. The results are consistent with the hypothesis that chronic ACTH treatment stimulates a) the de novo synthesis of adenylate- and guanylate-cyclase or b) the synthesis of new specific membrane receptors for ACTH.Part of this work was presented at the 3rd International Conference on Cyclic Nucleotides, July 1977, New Orleans, Abstr. Book, p. 79.     

Influence of adrenal cortex on thyrocalcitonin content of the rat thyroid

Riassunto Il trattamento con ATCH o cortisone causa un aumento del contenuto in tirocalcitonina delle tiroidi di ratto. Vengono discusse le possibili implicazioni dei risultati ottenuti.     

Cycloheximide-induced ultrastructural changes in the adrenal cortex of the rat

Zusammenfassung Cycloheximid als allgemeiner Inhibitor der Proteinsynthese verursacht submikroskopische Veränderungen in der Nebennierenrinde der Ratte. Kompaktes Material und konzentrische Membranstrukturen im Zytoplasma von Zellen der Zona fasciculata finden sich um Mitochondrien und Lipidtropfen.     

Participation of ACTH1–10 and ACTH4–10 on the melatonin modulation of benzodiazepine receptors in rat cerebral cortex

In this study, we examined the effect of intracerebroventricular (i.c.v) injection of melatonin and/or ACTH_1–10 and ACTH_4–10 on [³H]flunitrazepam binding sites in the cerebral cortex of hypophysectomized rats. Hypophysectomy increased the B_max (maximum number of binding sites) of benzodiazepine (BNZ) receptors for at least 7 days after surgery, without changing K_D (dissociation constant). The i.c.v. injection of melatonin to hypophysectomized rats significantly increased B_max, whereas the same doses of melatonin were ineffective in sham-operated animals. In both cases, K_D values were unchanged. The i.c.v injection of ACTH_1–10 to hypophysectomized animals significantly increased B_max, an effect that was enhanced by simultaneous i.c.v. injection of ACTH_1–10+melatonin, reaching higher values of B_max than the i.c.v. injection of these hormones individually. No significant changes in K_D values were found after ACTH_1–10 and/or melatonin administration. However, the i.c.v. injection of ACTH_4–10 to hypophysectomized rats did not change B_max, although it significantly increased K_D values, indicating a decrease in the BNZ binding affinity. Melatonin injection counteracted this effect of ACTH_4–10, returning K_D to the control value. Moreover, although the lower dose of i.c.v. melatonin used, 10 ng, was unable to modify B_max of BNZ binding in the ACTH_4–10-injected group, the higher dose, 20 ng, significantly increased B_max. The results suggest that these ACTH-derived peptides can modulate the effect of melatonin on brain benzodiazepine receptors.     

On the participation of the zona glomerulosa on the adrenal response to stress

Zusammenfassung Zwei Serien Ratten wurden durch Formalininjektion belastet. Die Zona glomerulosa der Nebennierenrinde reagierte durch Lipoidausscheidung nur in jener Serie, die durch hohe Lymphozytenzahl des Blutes, hohen Lipoidgehalt der Fasciculata, kleinere Aktivität der Lymphknötchen der Milz und auffallend intensive Stressreaktion der Fasciculata charakterisiert war. Bei Ratten, deren Glomerulosa ihre Lipoide ausgeschieden hatte, trat weder Schwellung noch Desintegration des lymphatischen Gewebes der Milz auf.     

Further investigations on the trophic effect of 3′∶5′-cyclic adenosine monophosphate and 3′∶5′-cyclic guanosine monophosphate on the zona glomerulosa of hypophysectomized rat adrenal cortex

Riassunto Oltre il cAMP, anche il cGMP esercita azione trofica sulla zona glomerulare di ratto. Entrambi i nucleotidi ciclici però, anche se somministrati in alte dosi, non annullano completamente glieffetti dell'ipofisectomia. La somministrazione simultanea di cAMP a cGMP provoca, invece, pieno mantenimento del trofismo della zona glomerulare di ratto ipofisectomizzato. Viene discussa la possibilità che entrambi i nucleotidi ciclici intervengano nella mediazione intracellulare dell'azione glomerulotrofica dell'ACTH.