Adrenal glands

Shilajit has been used as a rejuvenator for ages in Indian ancient traditional medicine and has been validated for a number of pharmacological activities. The effect of processed shilajit which was standardized to dibenzo-α-pyrones (DBPs;0.43% w/w), DBP-chromoproteins (DCPs; 20.45% w/w) and fulvic acids (56.75% w/w) was evaluated in a rat model of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). The mitochondrial bioenergetics and the activity of hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis were evaluated for the plausible mechanism of action of shilajit. CFS was induced by forcing the rats to swim for 15mins for 21 consecutive days. The rats were treated with shilajit (25, 50 and 100mg/kg) for 21 days before exposure to stress procedure. The behavioral consequence of CFS was measured in terms of immobility and the climbing period. The post-CFS anxiety level was assessed by elevated plus maze (EPM) test. Plasma corticosterone and adrenal gland weight were estimated as indices of HPA axis activity. Anal...

Effect of Fasciola gigantica infection on adrenal and thyroid glands was investigated using eight male, yearling Murrah buffaloes. The animals were randomly assigned to two groups of four buffaloes each (Group-A, infected; Group-B, non-infected control). Animals of Group-A were orally infected with 1000 F. gigantica viable metacercariae, keeping other four animals of Group-B as uninfected control. In the infected buffaloes, the clinical signs began appearing from 7th week postinfection (p.i.) and eggs were detected in the faeces between day 93 and 99 (95.5+/-1.25) postinfection (p.i.). The serum cortisol level, revealed a significant (P<0.05) rise during initial stage of the infection, followed by a continuous fall from 12th week onward. Peak cortisol level on 10th week (13.30+/-2.57ngml(-1)) was associated with eosinophilia (11.0+/-0.95%). However, non-infected controls maintained almost uniform cortisol levels (3.97+/-0.15-5.88+/-0.09ngml(-1)) throughout the period of the study. The pathological changes of adrenal glands were correlated with physiological dysfunction of the glands. The levels of T(3) and T(4) were significantly (P<0.05-0.01) low from 14th week onward and were synchronous with in situ migration, growth and development of F. gigantica. Significant reduction in the thyroid hormones was further supported by histopathological evidence of lymphocytic thyroiditis confirming hypothyroidism. A decrease in Hb, PCV, total erythrocyte counts and appearance of reticulocytes in the blood of the infected buffaloes suggested regenerative anemia, which could partly be due to hypothyroidism.

SALL1 was originally identified on the basis of its DNA sequence homology to the region-specific homeotic gene Sal, in Drosophila melanogaster, which acts as a down- stream target of hedgehog/tumor growth factor--like decapentaplegic signals. The SALL1 gene has been associ- ated with the Townes-Brocks Syndrome (TBS), a disorder characterized by multiorgan dysgenesis including renal and genital malformations. In this study,

At a given cytosolic domain of a chromaffin cell, the rate and amplitude of the Ca 2+ concentration ([Ca 2+ ] c ) depends on at least four efficient regulatory systems: 1) plasmalemmal calcium channels, 2) endoplasmic reticulum, 3) mitochondria, and 4) chromaffin vesicles. Different ...

It appears that neoangiogenesis is an important factor in tumour invasion and the formation of metastases in several human cancers, and studies on pro-angiogenic and antiangiogenic factors are therefore of considerable interest to researchers. In this review we present pro-angiogenic and anti-angiogenic factors and other growth factors and their role in the formation of new blood vessels in adrenal tumours. Assessment of the angiogenic status of adrenal tumours and their vascular pattern may be useful for discriminating benign from malignant lesions and knowledge of their angiogenesis may be essential to the drawing up of promising treatment strategies for patients with malignant tumours.

In some production settings, beef bulls are mixed at the beginning of the finishing period to obtain homogeneous groups to facilitate finishing and to produce more homogeneous carcasses. Given the stress induced by mixing, we questioned whether this practice was profitable. Sixty-four young bulls were finished in groups of four over 8 mo. They were either mixed or unmixed and had either homogeneous vs. heterogeneous BW at the beginning of finishing. Behavioral traits (social behavior following mixing and general activities during the finishing period), stress measurements (cortisol concentration, adrenal weight, catecholamine-synthesizing enzyme activity, and pain sensitivity), and production traits (growth rate, homogeneity, feed efficiency, and carcass measurements) were evaluated. Bulls reacted to the mixing with increased frequency of social interactions (agonistic interactions: 17.9 in mixed vs. 1.2 in unmixed bulls, P < 0.001; sexual interactions: 9.6 vs. 1.7, P < 0.001;...

The acute response to stress consists of a series of physiological programs to promote survival by generating glucocorticoids and activating stress-response genes that increase the synthesis of many chaperone proteins specific to individual organelles. In the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), short-term stress triggers activation of the unfolded protein response (UPR) module that either leads to neutralization of the initial stress or adaption to it; chronic stress favors cell death. UPR induces expression of the transcription factor, C/EBP homology protein (CHOP), and its deletion protects against the lethal consequences of prolonged UPR. Here, we show that stress-induced CHOP expression coincides with increased metabolic activity. During stress, the ER and mitochondria comes close to each other, resulting in the formation of a complex consisting of the mitochondrial translocase, translocase of outer mitochondrial membrane 22 (Tom22), steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR) and 3β-...

To develop clinical practice guidelines for the management of patients with primary aldosteronism Participants: The Task Force included a chair, selected by the Clinical Guidelines Subcommittee of the Endocrine Society, six additional experts, a methodologist, and a medical writer. The Task Force received no corporate funding or remuneration. We searched for systematic reviews and primary studies to formulate the key treatment and prevention recommendations. We used the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation group criteria to describe both the quality of evidence and the strength of recommendations. We used 'recommend' for strong recommendations and 'suggest' for weak recommendations. We achieved consensus by collecting the best available evidence and conducting one group meeting, several conference calls, and multiple e-mail communications. With the help of a medical writer, the Endocrine Society's Clinical Guidelines Subcommittee, C...

Serum aldosterone is a causative factor for various metabolic and cardiovascular disorders. Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) is a major cholesterol source for aldosterone steroidogenesis; however, the effect of oxidative modification of LDL on aldosterone release is not known. We studied the effect of hypochlorite-oxidized LDL (oxLDL) on adrenal aldosterone secretion. LDL (native LDL (natLDL)) was obtained from healthy volunteers and oxidatively modified in vitro. NCI-H295R cells were stimulated with natLDL and oxLDL, and the aldosterone release was quantified by radioimmunoassay. Molecular changes were studied with western blot analysis and quantitative RT-PCR analysis. NatLDL and oxLDL caused dose-dependent increase in aldosterone release up to threefold. However, the stimulatory effects of modified LDL on aldosterone secretion decreased with increasing degree of LDL oxidation. 24-h incubations with natLDL, mild- and medium-oxidized LDL sensitized the adrenocortical cells to subseque...

Primary adrenal insufficiency, or Addison disease, has many causes, the most common of which is autoimmune adrenalitis. Autoimmune adrenalitis results from destruction of the adrenal cortex, which leads to deficiencies in glucocorticoids, mineralocorticoids, and adrenal androgens. In the United States and Western Europe, the estimated prevalence of Addison disease is one in 20,000 persons; therefore, a high clinical suspicion is needed to avoid misdiagnosing a life-threatening adrenal crisis (i.e., shock, hypotension, and volume depletion). The clinical manifestations before an adrenal crisis are subtle and can include hyperpigmentation, fatigue, anorexia, orthostasis, nausea, muscle and joint pain, and salt craving. Cortisol levels decrease and adrenocorticotropic hormone levels increase. When clinically suspected, patients should undergo a cosyntropin stimulation test to confirm the diagnosis. Treatment of primary adrenal insufficiency requires replacement of mineralocorticoids an...

ACTH-Independent macronodular adrenal hyperplasia (AIMAH) is a rare cause of endogenous Cushing's syndrome (CS), in which clinical features usually become apparent only after several decades of life. This form of adrenal hyperplasia typically produces excess cortisol with ...

The endocrine system may be the target of different types of trauma with varied consequences. The present article discusses trauma of the hypothalamic–pituitary axes, adrenal glands, gonads, and pancreas. In addition to changes in circulating hormone levels due ...

Cultured bovine adrenal chromaffin cells (BCCs) are employed to study first messenger-specific signaling by cytokines and neurotransmitters occurring in the adrenal medulla following immune-related stress responses. Here, we show that the cytokine TNF-alpha, and the neuropeptide transmitter PACAP, acting through the TNFR2 and PAC1 receptors, activate distinct signaling pathways, with correspondingly distinct transcriptomic signatures in chromaffin cells. We have carried out a comprehensive integrated transcriptome analysis of TNF-alpha and PACAP gene regulation in BCCs using two microarray platforms to maximize transcript identification. Microarray data were validated using qRT-PCR. More than 90% of the transcripts up-regulated either by TNF-alpha or PACAP were specific to a single first messenger. The final list of transcripts induced by each first messenger was subjected to multiple algorithms to identify promoter/enhancer response elements for trans-acting factors whose activation could account for gene expression by either TNF-alpha or PACAP. Distinct groups of transcription factors potentially controlling the expression of TNF-alpha or PACAP-responsive genes were found: most of the genes up-regulated by TNF-alpha contained transcription factor binding sites for members of the Rel transcription factor family, suggesting TNF-alpha-TNFR2 signaling occurs mainly through the NF-KB signaling pathway. Surprisingly, EGR1 was predicted to be the primary transcription factor controlling PACAP-modulated genes, suggesting PACAP signaling to the nucleus occurs predominantly through ERK, rather than CREB activation. Comparison of TNFR2-dependent versus TNFR1-dependent gene induction, and EGR1-mediated transcriptional activation, may provide a pharmacological avenue to the unique pathways activated by the first messengers TNF-alpha and PACAP in neuronal and endocrine cells.

Fetal glucocorticoid excess programs a range of detrimental outcomes in the adult phenotype, at least some of which may be due to altered adult adrenocortical function. In this study, we determined the effects of maternal dexamethasone treatment on offspring adrenal morphology and function, as well as the interactive effects of postnatal dietary omega-3 (n-3) fatty acids. This postnatal dietary intervention has been shown to alleviate many of the programming outcomes in this model, but whether this is via the effects on adrenal function is unknown. Dexamethasone acetate was administered to pregnant rats (0.75 μg/ml drinking water) from day 13 to term. Cross-fostered offspring were raised on either a standard or high-n-3 diet. Adrenal weight (relative to body weight) at 6 months of age was unaffected by prenatal dexamethasone, regardless of postnatal diet, and stereological analysis showed no effect of dexamethasone on the volumes of adrenal components (zona glomerulosa, zona fascicu...

RESUMEN:
Introducción. Las masas encontradas en la glándula suprarrenal pueden clasificarse de acuerdo con su origen, comportamiento, localización, función y forma de diagnóstico. En Colombia no existen datos suficientes que describan la frecuencia y las principales características histopatológicas de dichas lesiones. El objetivo del presente manuscrito es describir los principales hallazgos histopatológicos y la malignidad de las masas suprarrenales en un centro médico especializado en patología de Bucaramanga, Santander. Metodología. Estudio descriptivo y retrospectivo. Se revisaron patologías de pacientes de todas las edades con alteraciones histopatológicas en la glándula suprarrenal, en un centro médico de Bucaramanga, Santander. Resultados. Se revisaron 79 patologías suprarrenales de las cuales 39 presentaron lesión a nivel de la glándula suprarrenal, la lesión más frecuente encontrada fue la metástasis (28.2%), y la localización de lesión más frecuente se evidenció en la glándula derecha (62.1%). Conclusión. Es fundamental que se realicen estudios prospectivos que permitan obtener datos epidemiológicos con el fin de generar datos locales.

ABSTRACT
Introduction. Masses found in the adrenal gland can be classified according to their origin, behavior, location, function and manner of diagnosis. In Colombia there are insufficient data describing the frequency and main histopathological characteristics of these lesions. The aim of this manuscript is to describe the main histopathological findings and malignancy of adrenal masses in a medical center specialized in pathology in Bucaramanga, Santander. Methodology. Descriptive and retrospective study. Pathologies of patients of all ages with histopathologic alterations in the adrenal gland were reviewed in a medical center in Bucaramanga, Santander. Results. Seventy-nine adrenal pathologies  were reviewed, of which 39 showed adrenal gland lesions. The most frequent lesion found was metastasis (28.2 %), and the most frequent location of the lesion was in the right gland (62.1 %). Conclusion. It is essential that prospective studies be carried out to obtain epidemiological data in order to generate local data.

RESUMO
Introdução. As massas encontradas na glândula adrenal podem ser classificadas de acordo com a sua origem, comportamento, localização, função e forma de diagnóstico. Na Colômbia, não há dados suficientes que descrevam a frequência e as principais características histopatológicas dessas lesões. O objetivo deste artigo é descrever os principais achados histopatológicos e a malignidade das massas adrenais em um centro médico especializado em patologia em Bucaramanga, Santander. Metodologia. Estudo descritivo e retrospectivo. Foram analisadas patologias de pacientes de todas as idades com  alterações histopatológicas na glândula adrenal, em um centro médico em Bucaramanga, Santander. Resultados. Foram revisadas 79 patologias adrenais, das quais 39 apresentavam lesão em glândula adrenal, a lesão mais frequente encontrada foi metástase (28.2%), e o local mais frequente de lesão foi evidenciado na glândula direita (62.1%). Conclusão. É imprescindível a realização de estudos prospectivos para obtenção de dados epidemiológicos a fim de gerar dados locais.