Biomaterial Database

[Adrenocortical zonation in human growth hormone gene (hGH) transgenic mice]. 1993

S Tanaka, and H Tojo, and A Matsuzawa

Laboratory Animal Research Center, University of Tokyo, Japan.

Adrenocortical zonation was histologically examined in 2 infertile female transgenic (Tg) mice which carried human growth hormone (hGH) gene and had a high circulating level of hGH. The adrenal cortices of Tg mice were characterized by the appearance of hypertrophied zona fasciculata cells with the cytoplasm filled with many lipid droplets even in size, the absence of the distinctive z. reticularis and the persistence of the X zone with nodules in one and without them in the other. The last finding might be explained by the reflection of the strain differences used in Tg mouse construction. It was, however, suggested that the X zone degeneration might not be associated with the adenohypophysis. The changes observed in z. fasciculata cells were interpreted as the effects of ACTH-like function of circulating hGH in addition to the known PRL-like function. The absence of the z. reticularis may be explained by its morphological similarity to z. fasciculata under the effects of the circulating hGH at a high level. In addition to genetic analysis of various inbred strains, Tg mice with ectopic hGH production provide a new methodology in analyzing the mechanism of adrenocortical zone formation.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D006984	Hypertrophy	General increase in bulk of a part or organ due to CELL ENLARGEMENT and accumulation of FLUIDS AND SECRETIONS, not due to tumor formation, nor to an increase in the number of cells (HYPERPLASIA).	Hypertrophies
D008297	Male		Males
D008822	Mice, Transgenic	Laboratory mice that have been produced from a genetically manipulated EGG or EMBRYO, MAMMALIAN.	Transgenic Mice,Founder Mice, Transgenic,Mouse, Founder, Transgenic,Mouse, Transgenic,Mice, Transgenic Founder,Transgenic Founder Mice,Transgenic Mouse
D005260	Female		Females
D006133	Growth Substances	Signal molecules that are involved in the control of cell growth and differentiation.	Mitogens, Endogenous,Endogenous Mitogens
D000302	Adrenal Cortex	The outer layer of the adrenal gland. It is derived from MESODERM and comprised of three zones (outer ZONA GLOMERULOSA, middle ZONA FASCICULATA, and inner ZONA RETICULARIS) with each producing various steroids preferentially, such as ALDOSTERONE; HYDROCORTISONE; DEHYDROEPIANDROSTERONE; and ANDROSTENEDIONE. Adrenal cortex function is regulated by pituitary ADRENOCORTICOTROPIN.	Cortex, Adrenal
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D050356	Lipid Metabolism	Physiological processes in biosynthesis (anabolism) and degradation (catabolism) of LIPIDS.	Metabolism, Lipid
D051379	Mice	The common name for the genus Mus.	Mice, House,Mus,Mus musculus,Mice, Laboratory,Mouse,Mouse, House,Mouse, Laboratory,Mouse, Swiss,Mus domesticus,Mus musculus domesticus,Swiss Mice,House Mice,House Mouse,Laboratory Mice,Laboratory Mouse,Mice, Swiss,Swiss Mouse,domesticus, Mus musculus