The developmental increase in adrenocortical 17,20-lyase activity (biochemical adrenarche) is driven primarily by increasing cytochrome b5 in neonatal rhesus macaques.

ABSTRACT: Adrenarche is thought to be experienced only by humans and some Old World primates despite observed regression of an adrenal fetal zone and establishment of a functional zona reticularis (ZR) in other species like rhesus macaques. Adrenal differentiation remains poorly defined biochemically in nonhuman primates. The present studies defined ZR development in the neonatal rhesus by examining androgen synthetic capacity and factors affecting it in rhesus and marmoset adrenals. Western immunoblots examined expression of 17alpha-hydroxylase/17,20-lyase cytochrome P450 (P450c17), cytochrome b5 (b5), and 3beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3betaHSD), among other key enzymes. 17,20-lyase activity was quantified in adrenal microsomes, as was the contribution of b5 to 17,20-lyase activity in microso

SUBMITTER: Nguyen AD 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2732332 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature