Glucocorticoids decrease phenylethanolamine N-methyltransferase mRNA expression in the immature foetal sheep adrenal

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dc.contributor.authorAdams, M.B.
dc.contributor.authorRoss, J.T.
dc.contributor.authorButler, T.G.
dc.contributor.authorMcMillen, I.C.
dc.date.issued1999
dc.description.abstractThis study examined the impact of a chronic physiological elevation of plasma cortisol levels on adrenal catecholamine synthetic enzyme and proenkephalin A mRNA expression in foetal sheep. Cortisol (2.5-3. 0 mg.5 ml-1.24 h-1, n=9) or saline (0.9% saline, n=6) was infused into foetal sheep for 7 days between 109 days and 116 days gestation. Foetal plasma cortisol concentrations were higher (P<0.0005) in the cortisol infused foetuses when compared with the saline infused group (43.07+/-4.13 nmol.l-1 vs 1.67+/-0.10 nmol.l-1). There were no differences, however, in the plasma ACTH levels between the two groups. Using Northern blot analysis, adrenal phenylethanolamine N-methyltransferase (PNMT) mRNA expression was found to be reduced (P<0.005) fivefold in the cortisol infused foetuses when compared with the controls, as was the relative area of the adrenal medulla which stained positively with anti-PNMT (28.1+/-2.5% vs 44.8+/-4.8%, P<0.007). No effect of cortisol infusion was observed on adrenal tyrosine hydroxylase mRNA and protein expression or proenkephalin A mRNA expression. We conclude that before birth, adrenaline synthesis may be suppressed by a novel direct, or indirect, inhibitory effect of glucocorticoids on PNMT mRNA expression.
dc.description.statementofresponsibilityM. B. Adams, J. T. Ross, T. G. Butler and I. C. McMillen
dc.identifier.citationJournal of Neuroendocrinology, 1999; 11(7):569-575
dc.identifier.doi10.1046/j.1365-2826.1999.00359.x
dc.identifier.issn0953-8194
dc.identifier.issn1365-2826
dc.identifier.orcidRoss, J.T. [0000-0001-7243-1051]
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/2440/123688
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisherWiley-Blackwell
dc.rights© 1999 Blackwell Science Ltd
dc.source.urihttps://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2826.1999.00359.x
dc.subjecttyrosine hydroxylase; catecholamines; proenkephalin A; adrenal medulla; cortisol
dc.titleGlucocorticoids decrease phenylethanolamine N-methyltransferase mRNA expression in the immature foetal sheep adrenal
dc.typeJournal article
pubs.publication-statusPublished

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