Steroid Production by Definitive and Fetal Zones of the Human Fetal Adrenal Gland*

Abstract

This study was performed to assess the relative contributions of the fetal and definitive zones of the human fetal adrenal gland to "corticoid" (cortisol and perhaps other corticosteroids) and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHAS) production, and the possible regulatory role of ACTH and the fetal pituitary in the secretion of of these steroids. Corticoid and radioimmunoassayable DHAS or total aromatizable androgen secretion by the isolated definitive and fetal zones of the human fetal adrenal gland between 10-20 weeks gestation has been studied in a superfusion system. Different functional capacities of the two zones were seen; corticoids were found to be secreted primarily by the definitive zone, while DHAS was found to be the main secretory product of the fetal zone. Addition of ACTH (250 ng/ml) or fetal pituitary homogenate produced a 2- to 5-fold stimulation of corticoid production by the definitive zone at all gestational ages studied. DHAS secretion by the fetal zone was also stimulated by ACTH. These results indicate that the definitive and fetal zones of the human fetal adrenal gland at midgestation have the capacity to respond to ACTH with increased corticoid or DHAS secretion, respectively.