scholarly journals RNA-Seq Reveals Sub-Zones in Mouse Adrenal Zona Fasciculata and the Sexually Dimorphic Responses to Thyroid Hormone

Endocrinology ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 161 (9) ◽  
Author(s):  
Qiongxia Lyu ◽  
Hui Wang ◽  
Yuan Kang ◽  
Xiangmeng Wu ◽  
Huifei Sophia Zheng ◽  
...  

Abstract The sex-specific prevalence of adrenal diseases has been known for a long time. However, the reason for the high prevalence of these diseases in females is not completely understood. Mouse studies have shown that the adult adrenal gland is sexually dimorphic at different levels such as transcriptome, histology, and cell renewal. Here we used RNA-seq to show that in prepubertal mice, male and female adrenal glands were not only sexually dimorphic but also responded differently to the same external stimulus. We previously reported that thyroid hormone receptor β1 (TRβ1) in the adrenal gland is mainly expressed in the inner cortex and the fate of this TRβ1-expressing cell population can be changed by thyroid hormone (triiodothyronine; T3) treatment. In the present study, we found that adrenal glands in prepubertal mice were sexually dimorphic at the level of the transcriptome. Under T3 treatment, prepubertal females had 1162 genes differentially expressed between the saline and T3 groups, whereas in males of the same age, only 512 genes were T3-responsive. Immunostaining demonstrated that several top sexually dimorphic T3-responsive genes, including Cyp2f2 and Dhcr24, were specifically expressed in the adrenal inner cortex, precisely in an area partially overlapping with the X-zone. Under T3 treatment, a unique cortical layer that surrounds the adrenal X-zone expanded significantly, forming a distinct layer peculiar to females. Our findings identified novel marker genes for the inner adrenal cortex, indicating there are different sub-zones in the zona fasciculata. The results also highlight the sex-specific response to thyroid hormone in the mouse adrenal gland.

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Huifei Sophia Zheng ◽  
Qiongxia Lyu ◽  
Chen-Che Jeff Huang

Abstract The gender bias in adrenal diseases has been noticed for a long time. Mouse studies have shown that the adrenal gland is sexually dimorphic at different levels, such as transcriptome, histology, and cell renewal. However, the mechanism behind this sexual dimorphism is not fully understood. Here, we used RNA-seq to demonstrate how male and female adrenals respond differently to the same external cue, the thyroid hormone (T3) treatment, which directly elicits its function on the adrenal inner cortex by changing the cell fate of this population. Through the comparison of the adrenal gland transcriptomes from males and females with T3 or saline treatment, we found that more genes in female adrenals were responsive to the T3 treatment, whereas the fold change of the gene expressions was greater in male adrenals. Statistical analysis identified 104 sexually dimorphic T3-responsive genes. Immunostaining results showed that many of these genes were expressed in the adrenal gland inner cortex, which contains a unique cell population called X-zone (20-alpha-HSD positive). Previous studies showed that T3 treatment leads to the expansion of the 20αHSD-positive zone both in males and in females. Here we found that the top sexually dimorphic T3-responsive gene was expressed in the adrenal inner cortex partially colocalized with X-zone. Under T3 treatment, this unique cell population that surrounds the 20-alpha-HSD positive X-zone became obvious only in females but not in males. Our findings not only identified several novel marker genes for the adrenal inner cortex but also highlighted the sex-specific response of thyroid hormone action in the mouse adrenal gland.


Endocrinology ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 156 (6) ◽  
pp. 2338-2348 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chen-Che Jeff Huang ◽  
Cary Kraft ◽  
Nicole Moy ◽  
Lily Ng ◽  
Douglas Forrest

Abstract The development of the adrenal cortex involves the formation and then subsequent regression of immature or fetal inner cell layers as the mature steroidogenic outer layers expand. However, controls over this remodeling, especially in the immature inner layer, are incompletely understood. Here we identify an inner cortical cell population that expresses thyroid hormone receptor-β1 (TRβ1), one of two receptor isoforms encoded by the Thrb gene. Using mice with a Thrbb1 reporter allele that expresses lacZ instead of TRβ1, β-galactosidase was detected in the inner cortex from early stages. Expression peaked at juvenile ages in an inner zone that included cells expressing 20-α-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase, a marker of the transient, so-called X-zone in mice. The β-galactosidase-positive zone displayed sexually dimorphic regression in males after approximately 4 weeks of age but persisted in females into adulthood in either nulliparous or parous states. T3 treatment promoted hypertrophy of inner cortical cells, induced some markers of mature cortical cells, and, in males, delayed the regression of the TRβ1-positive zone, suggesting that TRβ1 could partly divert the differentiation fate and counteract male-specific regression of inner zone cells. TRβ1-deficient mice were resistant to these actions of T3, supporting a functional role for TRβ1 in the inner cortex.


2019 ◽  
Vol 21 (93) ◽  
pp. 125-130 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. V. Zakrevska ◽  
A. M. Tybinka

For the purposes of the adrenal gland’s study, 27 four months old male rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) of Termond White breed were selected. Based on electrocardiography and variation pulsometry results, three types of autonomous tonus were determined in animals: sympathicotonia (ST), normotonia (NT) and parasympathicotonia (PS), which formed the basis for the division of animals into three groups. All rabbits were subjected to euthanasia and histological preparations were made from their adrenal glands. Apart from the main adrenal gland, accessory adrenal gland was detected in five purposes animals, including three ST rabbits, one NT rabbit and one PS rabbit. Also, four accessory adrenal glands were revealed in one ST rabbit simultaneously. In fact, these accessory adrenal glands became the main object of the further morphological research. The obtained historical indicators accessory adrenal glands were compared to the ones from various animal groups (CT with NT and CT with PS), as well as to the indicators of the main adrenal gland in each group. Statistical analysis of the received data was performed only in the group of ST animals. Accessory adrenal gland of ST rabbits is represented by two zones: zona glomerulosa and zona fasciculata, the area of which is 52% and 48% respectively. In PS and NT rabbits, the glands are formed by zona glomerulosa only. Investigating the accessory adrenal gland’s cellular component, it was found that NT rabbits have the largest cell area in zona glomerulosa, while PS rabbits have the smallest one. At the same time, the area of nucleus has the largest values in ST animals and the smallest ones in PS animals likewise. Сomparing zona glomerulosa and zona fasciculata in ST rabbits, it was found that cell size differs significantly, while the area of nucleus is almost identical. The nuclear-cytoplasmic ratio in zona glomerulosa cells is the largest for PS rabbits. The smallest ratio values were detected among the NT rabbits. Obviously, ST rabbits occupy an intermediate position. Unlike the main adrenal gland, the cells of accessory adrenal gland are of a smaller size and а denser location of cells in all groups of animals. The conducted studies allow concluding that the typological features of the autonomous tonus affect the morphology of accessory adrenal gland.


1965 ◽  
Vol 31 (3) ◽  
pp. 227-NP ◽  
Author(s):  
A. H. BAILLIE ◽  
E. H. D. CAMERON ◽  
K. GRIFFITHS ◽  
D. McK. HART

SUMMARY 3β-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activity was studied histochemically in human, monkey, and rat adrenal glands and in human placentae. Tissue sections were incubated separately with each of the following substrates: (1) 3β-hydroxypregn-5-en-20-one (pregnenolone); (2) sodium 3β-sulphoxypregn-5-en-20-one (pregnenolonesulphate); (3) 3β-acetoxypregn-5-en-20 one (pregnenoloneacetate); (4) 3β,16α-dihydroxypregn-5-en-20-one (16α-hydroxypregnenolone); (5) 3β,17α-dihydroxypregn-5-en-20-one (17α-hydroxypregnenolone); (6) ammonium 3β-sulphoxy-17α-hydroxypregn-5-en-20-one (17α-hydroxypregnenolone ammonium sulphate); (7) 3β-hydroxyandrost-5-en-17-one (DHA); (8) 3β-sulphoxyandrost-5-en-17-one (DHA sulphate); (9) 3β-acetoxyandrost-5-en-17-one (DHA acetate); (10) androst-5-ene-3β, 17β-diol (androstenediol). The histochemical results obtained with pregnenolone and DHA as substrates resemble those described by other workers. Using pregnenolone sulphate and 17α-hydroxypregnenolone sulphate, a strong histochemical reaction with diformazan deposition was found in the zona fasciculata of the adrenals of all species and in the placental syntrophoblast. With DHA sulphate an extremely weak histochemical reaction was obtained with the adrenal zona fasciculata, monoformazan only being deposited. The syntrophoblast, however, showed intense 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activity when incubated with DHA sulphate. These results accord with recent findings regarding the secretion and metabolism of 3β-sulphoxysteroids. A strong histochemical reaction was also obtained in both adrenal and placental tissues using 17α-hydroxypregnenolone, 16α-hydroxypregnenolone, androstenediol, pregnenolone acetate, and DHA acetate. These steroids have not previously been described as substrates for the histochemical demonstration of 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase in the adrenal or placenta.


2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (06) ◽  
pp. 5449-5457
Author(s):  
Can Ismail ◽  
Aksak Karamese Selina ◽  
Findik Guvendi Gulname ◽  
Can Serpil ◽  
Kocaaslan Ramazan ◽  
...  

Consciously done exercises are beneficial for human health. However, unconscious and wrong practices (medication use, etc…) can cause various injuries and permanent damage to the human body. For reasons such as increasing muscle mass and/or to getting more performance, taking steroid hormones disrupts overall body hormone balance. Effects of exercise on oxygen and energy metabolism and estrogen as an exogenous steroid have significant effects on the adrenal gland. The aim of this study was to see the effects of 17b-estradiol on surrenal glands of rats that is put through regular physical exercises. 36 male Sprague-Dawley rats between the weights 220-250 gr, were put into thermal-controlled room with day-night cycles to stimulate an optimal day for the subjects. The experiment was modeled by dividing 36 animals into 6 groups in total according to the control, exercising and estrogen administration criteria. Experimental group animals received daily doses of 10 μg/kg/day 17-β-estradiol during 30 days. Also exercises group animals ran at 20 m/min on a 15% grade for 90 minutes and rest 34 minutes. Then, TUNNEL and Hematoxylen & Eosin staining were performed to measure the damage on the adrenal glands. In group 2, dense presence of degenerative fibroblasts and inflammatuary cells infiltration in zona fasciculata were significantly different. In group 3, the degenerative areas were significant in all adrenal cortex zones. In group 4, necrotic areas were determined in zona reticularis. In group 5, zona fasciculata was severely degenerated. With group 6, Sinusoidal features were completely lost in zona reticularis. The results strongly show that exercise may affect the zona glomerulase in short time period. As a result, exposure to exercise and exercise stress with external administration of estradiol may cause cellular degeneration especially zona fasciculata and zona reticularis in the adrenal gland.


2020 ◽  
Vol 48 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leonardo Oliveira Trivilin ◽  
Francisco De Assis Pessoa Júnior ◽  
Maria Aparecida Da Silva ◽  
Leandro André Milholli ◽  
Felipe Martins Pastor ◽  
...  

Background: Differences of the size of the adrenal glands, in healthy dogs or in endocrinopathies, undermine correct diagnosis of endocrine disorders and evaluations of the adrenal cortex in relation to its size and possible correlation with endocrinopathies are rare. The aim of the present study was to perform measurements of the length, width, thickness and weight of the adrenal glands of young, adult and elderly mixed-breed dogs and correlate them with the age, sex and weight of animals. In addition, the areas occupied by the zona glomerulosa, zona fasciculata, and zona reticularis of the adrenal cortex were measured in order to establish a microscopic biometric pattern.Material, Methods & Results: The right and left adrenal glands of 12 young (six females and six males), 12 adults (six females and six males), and 12 elderly (six females and six males), all mongrels, derived from routine and necropsied in the Animal Pathology Sector of the Veterinary Hospital of the Federal University of Espírito Santo (HOVET-UFES) were weighed and the length, width, and thickness were measured. For the microscopic measurement of the adrenal cortex, 10 randomly selected samples were submitted to routine histological processing and the microscope slides were observed under a light microscope at 5× and 10× objectives, photodocumented and measurements were obtained from a random portion of the adrenal cortex and the zones composing the cortex were measured in triplicate with the aid of the computerized image analysis software. The left adrenal showed a greater average length than the right adrenal in young, adult, and elderly dogs. The size of the glands in the young and adult dogs is not influenced by the sex of the animals, but in older dogs the females had a greater mean width than the males. The weight of the animals presented a positive correlation in relation to the length and weight of the right and left adrenal glands in all studied groups. The age did not influence the length and weight variables of the glands. However, some differences in thickness and width were observed in the elderly group compared to those in other groups. For the microscopic measurements in the right adrenal gland, the cortex was 1.53 mm, being 0.21 mm for the glomerular zone (14.6% of the total adrenal cortex), 1.04 mm for the zona fasciculata (66.9%), and 0.29 mm for the zona reticularis (18.5%). In the left adrenal gland, the cortex was 1.83 mm, being 0.23 mm for the glomerular zone (13.2% of the total adrenal cortex), 1.23 mm for the zona fasciculata (63.96%), and 0.37 for the zona reticularis (22.84%).Discussion: Studies on the size of the adrenal gland in dogs using macroscopic biometrics are scarce, and the current study presents results regarding mixed-breed (male and female) dogs of different ages, which presented variation in size and weight, which could also influence the size of the adrenal gland. Thus, it can be observed that a variation of measurements can be found, especially for dogs with no defined breed. These results demonstrate the importance of studies that perform the macroscopic analysis of such glands. It was concluded that there was a clear variation in the size of the adrenal glands in mixed-breed dogs of different ages and both sexes; the left adrenal showed greater lengths and weights than the right gland. The sex of the animals did not influence the size of the glands in young and adult dogs, but in elderly dogs, the females showed a greater mean width than the males. The right and left adrenal cortices are formed at a greater percentage by the zona fasciculata, followed by the zona reticularis and zona glomerulosa.


2007 ◽  
Vol 293 (1) ◽  
pp. E139-E146 ◽  
Author(s):  
Max Bielohuby ◽  
Nadja Herbach ◽  
Rüdiger Wanke ◽  
Christiane Maser-Gluth ◽  
Felix Beuschlein ◽  
...  

The adrenal gland is of critical importance for a plethora of biological processes. We performed the first systematic analysis of adrenal gland growth using unbiased stereological methods in male and female mice from weaning to adulthood ( weeks 3, 5, 7, 9, and 11) at the organ, compartment, and cellular levels. Adrenal weights increased from week 3 to week 7 in male and female mice, remained at this level in females, but decreased by 25% between week 7 and week 9 in males. Female adrenal glands displayed a higher weight at any stage investigated. The volume of the zona fasciculata was consistently higher in female vs. male mice. In both genders, the number of zona fasciculata cells reached a maximum at the age of 7 wk and decreased significantly until week 9. Serum corticosterone concentrations decreased from 3 to 11 wk of age both in male and female mice. However, the estimated total amounts of corticosterone in the circulation were similar in 3- and 11-wk-old mice. Furthermore, total circulating corticosterone was higher in females than in males at an age of 5 and 11 wk. In the zona glomerulosa and in the X-zone, time- and gender-dependent growth effects were observed. In conclusion, our results demonstrate that growth and function of the adrenal glands are markedly influenced by gender and age. These factors require careful consideration in studies aiming at the functional dissection of genetic and environmental factors affecting adrenal growth and function.


1970 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 873-883
Author(s):  
Casmir Onwuaso Igbokwe

The adrenal glands of domesticated greater cane rats (Thryonomys swinderianus), were studied using histological and ultrastructural techniques. A total of seven (7) adult male greater cane rats, aged from 10-14 months, with an average weight of 1.89 kg (range: 1.6 -2.2 kg) were used in this study. The results showed variations in the thickness of the zones of the cortex and medulla. Histological detail did not differ significantly from that of other rodents. Ultrastructural features showed typical adrenal gland zonation with capsule, cortical cells and medulla. In the cortex copious lipid droplets and myelin bodies were present. The cortical cells of the zona fasciculata contained concentric whorls of rough endoplasmic reticulum that enclosed2-3 mitochondria. Adrenaline storing (A) and noradrenaline-storing (NA) chromaffin cells along with few vesicular ganglion cells were identified in the medulla. The functional significance of the present observation is discussed.Keywords: adrenal gland, cane rats, histology, ultrastructure


2017 ◽  
Vol 68 (9) ◽  
pp. 2014-2017
Author(s):  
Jelena Savici ◽  
Oana Maria Boldura ◽  
Cornel Balta ◽  
Diana Brezovan ◽  
Florin Muselin ◽  
...  

This study was carried out to test the possibility of hexavalent chromium administration through drinking water to induce the structural damage in rat�s adrenal glands and the possibility of Hypericum perforatum extract to faith against chromium aggression. Chromium induced cellular stress was determined by the expression level assessment of the Bcl2 genes family, known to modulate the apoptotic pathway. Obtained results showed that exposure to chromium altered adrenal glands morphology, by induction of apoptosis. When Hypericum perforatum extract was administered expression level of Bcl2 genes and histological lesions in adrenal glands were significantly reduced.


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