Adrenal tissue

This is an acute, non-invasive infectious disease associated with the upper respiratory tract (Chapter 4). The incubation period is fiom 2 to 5 days although the disease remains communicable for up to 4 weeks. A low molecular weight toxin is produced which affects myocardium, nervous and adrenal tissues. Death results in 3-5% of infected children. Diphtheria immunization protects by stimulating the production of an antitoxin. This antitoxin will protect against the disease but not against infection of the respiratory... 

An evaluation of the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study (Giovannucci et al., 1995) has detected a lower prostate cancer risk associated with the greater consumption of tomatoes and related food products. Tomatoes are the primary dietary source of lycopene and lycopene concentrations are highest in testis and adrenal tissue (Clinton, 1998). In paired benign and malignant prostate tissue from 25 American men, 53-74 yrs, undergoing... 

N3. Naruse, M., Obana, K Naruse, K., Yamaguchi, H Demura, H., Inagami, T., and Shizume, K., Atrial natriuretic polypeptide inhibits cortisol secretion as well as aldosterone secretion in vitro from human adrenal tissue. J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab. 64, 10-16 (1987). 

Manganese(II)-A/, A/r -dipyridoxylethylenediamine-A/r, AT-diacetate 5,5 -bis(phosphate) 75 (DPDP) is clinically used for enhancing contrast in the liver (detection of hepatocellular carcinomas) (312). Some dissociation of Mn(II) appears to occur in the liver, and enhancement can also be obtained in functional adrenal tissues (313). Manganese(II)-tetrasulfonated phthalocyanine also shows tumor localization properties and is a more efficient relaxation agent than the analogous Gd(III) complexes (314). 

System (4) has been described for the analysis of corticosteroids in human adrenal tissues [152]. Prior to the HPLC analysis, the corticosteroids were extracted from adrenal tissues by acetone. The permissible columns were 20 cm X 2.4 mm, consisting of Zorbax-SIL (for more polar compounds) or Zorbax-CN (for less polar compounds). The mobile phase was 9 4 1 cyclohexane-dichloromethane-ethanol or aqueous methanol, and eluted at a flow rate of 0.4 mL/min. Using a UV detection wavelength of 254 nm, sample recoveries were 78.5-99.5%, and the relative standard deviation was 2-5%. 

Experimentation has also been performed in tissue transplantation to replenish the cell lost in PD. Samples of a victim s own adrenal tissue have... 

The CGRP family of peptides includes the 37-amino acid neurotransmitter CGRP, the 52-amino acid adreno-medullin, found predominantly in vascular cells and adrenal tissue and the 37-amino acid amylin found in pancreatic islet p-cells. These peptides share a 6-amino acid ring structure, formed by an intramolecular disulfide bridge. 

Tissue content of corticosterone and aldosterone, expressed as total content per gland (ng/ adrenal), and as relative concentration (ng/g adrenal tissue). 

Corticosterone is now conveniently determined by RIA or HPLC, and dispersed adrenal cells are incubated instead of adrenal tissue fragments. 

The pattern of inhibition of 17a-hydroxylase exhibited by metyrapone lends further support to the hypothesis that cytochrome P450 is involved in the enzyme system319 whilst the effect of administration of spironolactone on the cytochrome P450 content and 17a-hydroxylase activity in adrenal tissue has shown that decreases in both of these factors occur only in animals that produce predominantly cortisol rather than corticosterone.320 18-Hydroxylation of deoxycorticosterone has been demonstrated in rat and bovine mitochondrial preparations and in reconstituted systems obtained from these fractions.321 In all cases, 18-hydroxylation was accompanied by 11/8-hydroxylation, and the study indicated that very similar types of cytochrome P450 were involved in both hydroxylation systems. 

Poisoning by endosulfan has caused blindness in sheep. Mirex at high dosage produces cataracts in rats and mice. The DDT analogue known as DDD is selectively concentrated in adrenal tissue, where high levels have an inhibitory effect on corticosteroid synthesis, and a damaging effect on the cells. Certain other organochlorines are also bioconcentrated in the adrenal cortex. 

According to the classical view of metabolism the hormones are synthesized as free steroids in endocrine tissues and prepared for excretion in urine by peripheral metabolism and conjugation. This view had to be modified upon the isolation of dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate from adrenal tumor [307]. Thus dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, a steroid conjugate, was shown to be secreted by the adrenal tissue. Isotopic methods also pointed in the same direction. Lieberman et al. [304], using... 

RNA is abundant in rat liver and intestine, the two organs that synthesize triglyceride-rich lipoproteins moreover, a small amount of message is found in rat adrenal tissue and a 20-fold increase in placental apoB mRN A concentrations during the last 48 hr of pregnancy. . . suggests a specific role for this organ in maternal—fetal lipid transport immediately prior to parturition (Demmer et ai, 1986). 

Choristoma a mass or collection of well-differentiated cells from one organ found within another organ, for example, adrenal tissue present in the lung. 

ANP, Atriopeptin) intrachain disulfide bond (28 aa) adrenal tissues blood pressure... 

Characteristics defining the vulnerability of the adrenal tissue to toxicants... 

Compounds producing structural or functional lesions in the adrenal tissue of vertebrates... 

Another classical example of a tissue-specific toxicity is the effect of o,//-DDD on the 11 /3-hydroxylase, a key steroidogenic enzyme present only in the adrenal tissue. In this particular case, the enzymes effecting steroid production are the specific targets for adrenal toxicants. Steroid hydroxylases contain hemoproteins, constituents that make them vulnerable to toxicants and oxidative stress54. The adrenotoxic effects of DDT and its derivatives, and the sensitivity of the 11 /3-hydroxylase to DDT have been detected in numerous species, including humans. A derivative of DDT, under the name mitotane, was in fact used clinically in chemotherapy treatments for tumors in the adrenal cortex93 as it specifically destroys adrenal cells. The use of mitotane is similar... 

The catecholamines are biosynthesized from the amino acid L-tyrosine as outhned in Figure 7.1. The known biochemical events leading to catecholamine metabolism and urinary excretion are also summarized in Figure 7.1. There is evidence that functioning pheochromocytomas have the various enzymes necessary for the conversion of tyrosine to catecholamines, and the level of activity of some of these enzymes (tyrosine hydroxylase, Dopa decarboxylase and dopamine p-hydroxylase) is higher than in normal adrenal tissue." ... 

Evidence that the A steroids are of adrenal origin has been supplied by Reynolds (R2), who showed that the urinary excretions of 16a-OH-DHA and 16-oxo-androstenediol were 0.3-1.4 mg/24 hours in a newborn female with the C-21 hydroxylase deficiency type of congenital adrenal hyperplasia. These fell to undetectable amounts with dexamethasone suppression therapy. A very low excretion of three 3y8-hydroxy-A steroids was found by the authors in the case of a baby shown subsequently at autopsy to have little adrenal tissue (see Section 11). Further circumstantial evidence is given when abnormalities are considered in Section 11 and also the effect of corticotropin in Section 12. 

Micromodifications. Click et al. (G4) described a method for the determination of L-ascorbic, dehydro-L-ascorbic, and diketo-L-gulonic acids in microgram quantities of tissue, such as adrenal tissue, with the phenylhydrazine method. They also found slightly lower values by incubation during coupling at 100°C for 5 minutes but false, high values at 100° C for ten minutes, as compared to the values obtained at 37°G for 6 hours. 

The large kidney copper content, 270 pg/g of tissue ash, when compared with the very small urine copper content, 0.04 pg/ml, suggests a conservatory role for the kidney. Gastric, intestinal and adrenal tissues also have high copper content, 200 to 300 /ig/g of tissue ash, and this reflects their high metabolic rates. Remaining tissues have lesser amounts of copper because of their relatively lower metabolic activity, but it is just as important for normal metabolism in these tissues as it is in all others. 

The isoforms of CYP450S and their regulation in the brain are of interest in defining the possible involvement of CYP450s in central nervous system toxicity and carcinogenicity. The CYP450s in the kidney and adrenal tissues include isotorms primarily involved in the hydroxylation of steroids, arachidonic acid, and 25-hydroxycholcalciferol. 

Metorphamide, adrenorphin, H-Tyr-Gly-Gly-Phe-Met-Arg-Arg-Val-NH2, an 8-peptide amide found in bovine brain and adrenal tissue. The sequence of metorphamide corresponds to bovine pro-enkephalin precursor-(206-213). Furthermore, metorphamide is similar in sequence to bovine adrenal medulla peptides. It shows high affinity to X opioid receptors [H. Matsuo et al.. Nature 1983, 305, 721 M. Sonders, E. Weber, J. Neurochem. 1987, 49, 671]. 

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