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Peptide growth factors and the adrenal cortex
Author(s) -
Ho Mei Mei,
Vinson Gavin P.
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
microscopy research and technique
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.536
H-Index - 118
eISSN - 1097-0029
pISSN - 1059-910X
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1097-0029(19970315)36:6<558::aid-jemt12>3.0.co;2-n
Subject(s) - adrenal cortex , growth factor , endocrinology , medicine , cell growth , biology , function (biology) , fibroblast growth factor , microbiology and biotechnology , receptor , biochemistry
Increasing evidence suggests that the actions of classical stimulants of adrenocortical growth and function, such as ACTH or dietary sodium restriction, may partially be mediated via locally produced regulators. Several peptide growth factors, such as basic fibroblast growth factor, insulin‐like growth factors, and transforming growth factor‐β 1 , have emerged in recent years as multifunctional molecules that typically play such regulatory roles. Adrenocortical cells are highly responsive to these growth factors, in particular in the regulation of cell growth and differentiated functions, such as steroidogenesis. In addition, growth factor expression in the adrenal cortex has been shown to be regulated by physiological stimulants. The spatial expression, release, and activation of these growth factors may, therefore, locally mediate or amplify the actions of the hypothalamo‐pituitary axis and the renin‐angiotensin system on adrenocortical proliferation, differentiation, and steroidogenesis. Microsc. Res. Tech. 36:558–568, 1997. © 1997 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.