Steroidogenic and morphologic effects of ACTH on human fetal adrenal cells grown in tissue culture.

Abstract

Tissue cultures grown from explants of human fetal adrenals have been maintained for up to 18 days. The morphological and biochemical state of the cortical cells growing from the explants was monitored by phase contrast microscopy and by measuring the extent of conversion of 4-14C-progesterone and 26-14C-cholesterol to labeled products. The cortical cells retained the ability to synthesize steroids throughout the culture periods. In addition, the cells were capable of responding to adrenocor-ticotrophin (ACTH). Cultures exposed to ACTH for 3 or more days showed a marked increase in steroidogenic activity relative to control cultures. ACTH induced concomitant morphological changes in the cells, and characteristic changes in the endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondria were observed in the ACTH-stimulated cells. The results of these experiments suggest that ACTH increases the steroidogenic capacity of fetal adrenal cortical cells in tissue culture and that this increase is associated with proliferation and or...