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Updated: Jul 9, 2026

Primary Culture of Rat Adrenocortical Cells and Assays of Steroidogenic Functions
Published on: March 12, 2019
Species differences in 3-methylsulphonyl-DDE bioactivation by adrenocortical tissue
Veronica Lindström1, Ingvar Brandt, Orjan Lindhe
1Department of Environmental Toxicology, Uppsala University, Norbyvägen 18A, 752 36 Uppsala, Sweden.
Abstract:
The CYP11B1-activated adrenocortical toxicant 3-methylsulphonyl-DDE (3-MeSO2-DDE) is proposed as a lead compound for an improved chemotherapy for adrenocortical carcinoma. We compared the binding of 3-MeSO2-[14C]DDE in the adrenal cortex of four rodent species; hamster, guinea pig, mouse and rat, using a precision-cut adrenal slice culture system ex vivo. Localization and quantification of the bound radioactivity were carried out using light microscopy autoradiography and radioluminography. The results revealed major species differences since 3-MeSO2-[14C]DDE was extensively bound to the hamster adrenal tissue while the guinea pig adrenals were devoid of binding. A high binding in mouse adrenal cortex was confirmed while binding in rat adrenal cortex was very weak. The results support previous observations that metabolic activation of 3-MeSO2-DDE is highly species dependent. Since CYP11B1 could be expressed in tissues other than the adrenal cortex, final toxicological characterization should be carried out in a species that can bioactivate this compound.
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