Cerebellin in the rat adrenal gland: gene expression and effects of CER and [des-Ser1]CER on the secretion and growth of cultured adrenocortical cells

  • Authors:
    • Marcin Rucinski
    • Giovanna Albertin
    • Raffaella Spinazzi
    • Agnieszka Ziolkowska
    • Gastone G. Nussdorfer
    • Ludwick K. Malendowicz
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: March 1, 2005     https://doi.org/10.3892/ijmm.15.3.411
  • Pages: 411-415
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Abstract

Cerebellin (CER) is a regulatory peptide, originally isolated from rat cerebellum, which derives from the cleavage of precerebellin (Cbln), three types of which (Cbln1-3) have been identified in humans and rats. CER is also expressed in several extra-cerebellar tissues, including adrenal gland, and evidence has been provided that CER exerts a modulatory action on human and rat adrenal gland. Hence, we have investigated the expression of Cbln1-3 mRNAs and CER protein-immunoreactivity (IR) in the various zones of rat adrenal glands, and the effects of CER and its metabolite [des-Ser1]CER (des-CER) on the secretion and growth of cultured rat adrenocortical cells. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction showed high and low expression of Cbln2 mRNA in zona glomerulosa (ZG) and zona fasciculata-reticularis, respectively. Cbln1 was not expressed, and Cbln3 mRNA was detected only in ZG. No Cbln expression was found in adrenal medulla. Immunocytochemistry demonstrated the presence of CER-IR exclusively in the adrenal cortex, the reaction being more intense in ZG. As expected, ACTH (10−8 M) markedly enhanced corticosterone secretion and lowered proliferation rate of cultured adrenocortical cells. CER was ineffective, while des-CER exerted an ACTH-like effect, but only at the lowest concentration (10−10 M). Taken together, these findings allow us to conclude that CER is expressed in rat adrenal cortex, and to suggest that CER conversion to des-CER by endopeptidases is needed for CER to exert its autocrine-paracrine regulatory functions.

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March 2005
Volume 15 Issue 3

Print ISSN: 1107-3756
Online ISSN:1791-244X

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Spandidos Publications style
Rucinski M, Albertin G, Spinazzi R, Ziolkowska A, Nussdorfer GG and Malendowicz LK: Cerebellin in the rat adrenal gland: gene expression and effects of CER and [des-Ser1]CER on the secretion and growth of cultured adrenocortical cells. Int J Mol Med 15: 411-415, 2005
APA
Rucinski, M., Albertin, G., Spinazzi, R., Ziolkowska, A., Nussdorfer, G.G., & Malendowicz, L.K. (2005). Cerebellin in the rat adrenal gland: gene expression and effects of CER and [des-Ser1]CER on the secretion and growth of cultured adrenocortical cells. International Journal of Molecular Medicine, 15, 411-415. https://doi.org/10.3892/ijmm.15.3.411
MLA
Rucinski, M., Albertin, G., Spinazzi, R., Ziolkowska, A., Nussdorfer, G. G., Malendowicz, L. K."Cerebellin in the rat adrenal gland: gene expression and effects of CER and [des-Ser1]CER on the secretion and growth of cultured adrenocortical cells". International Journal of Molecular Medicine 15.3 (2005): 411-415.
Chicago
Rucinski, M., Albertin, G., Spinazzi, R., Ziolkowska, A., Nussdorfer, G. G., Malendowicz, L. K."Cerebellin in the rat adrenal gland: gene expression and effects of CER and [des-Ser1]CER on the secretion and growth of cultured adrenocortical cells". International Journal of Molecular Medicine 15, no. 3 (2005): 411-415. https://doi.org/10.3892/ijmm.15.3.411