Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 20, 2026

Primary Culture of Rat Adrenocortical Cells and Assays of Steroidogenic Functions
04:33

Primary Culture of Rat Adrenocortical Cells and Assays of Steroidogenic Functions

Published on: March 12, 2019

Neuropeptide Y modulates steroid production of human adrenal H295R cells through Y1 receptors

P Kempná1, M Körner, B Waser

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetology, University Children's Hospital Bern, Switzerland.

Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology
|August 25, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Neuropeptide Y (NPY) directly impacts human adrenal cortisol production by activating the Y1 receptor. This study found NPY decreases cortisol levels and specific gene expression in adrenal cells, without affecting proliferation.

Area of Science:

  • Endocrinology
  • Neuroendocrinology
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Neuropeptide Y (NPY) is widely distributed in the nervous system.
  • The Y1 receptor subtype is present in the human adrenal cortex and adrenal tumors, but its function remains unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the function of the Y1 receptor in human adrenal cells.
  • To determine the effects of NPY on steroidogenesis and cell proliferation in the human adrenal cortex.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized radioactive ligand binding assays to confirm Y1 receptor expression in NCI-H295R cells.
  • Stimulated MEK/ERK1/2 pathways to verify functional Y1 receptors.
  • Measured steroidogenesis (11-deoxycortisol, cortisol) and gene expression (HSD3B2, CYP21A2) following NPY treatment.

Main Results:

  • NPY specifically binds to and activates the Y1 receptor in H295R cells, stimulating the MEK/ERK1/2 pathway.
  • NPY and PYY significantly reduced 11-deoxycortisol and cortisol production, an effect reversed by the Y1 antagonist BIBP2336.
  • NPY decreased HSD3B2 and CYP21A2 mRNA expression but did not influence cell proliferation.

Conclusions:

  • Neuropeptide Y directly regulates human adrenal cortisol production via the Y1 receptor.
  • NPY signaling in the adrenal cortex may play a role in modulating steroidogenesis.

More Related Videos

Isolation, Fixation, and Immunofluorescence Imaging of Mouse Adrenal Glands08:37

Isolation, Fixation, and Immunofluorescence Imaging of Mouse Adrenal Glands

Published on: October 2, 2018

Related Concept Videos

Hormones of the Adrenal Glands01:31

Hormones of the Adrenal Glands

Adrenal hormones play a pivotal role in maintaining the body's electrolyte balance and orchestrating responses to stress, showcasing the intricate functions of the adrenal cortex and medulla.
The adrenal cortex, a powerhouse of hormone synthesis, generates over two dozen corticosteroid hormones. The zona glomerulosa produces mineralocorticoids, exemplified by aldosterone, influencing the electrolyte composition of body fluids. The synthesis of glucocorticoids such as cortisol and corticosterone...
Regulation of Hormone Secretion01:19

Regulation of Hormone Secretion

Regulation of hormone secretion is a finely tuned orchestration driven by various types of stimuli, encompassing neural, humoral, and hormonal signals. Environmental cues instigate neural stimuli, where action potentials traverse nerve fibers to reach their designated targets. An illustrative scenario is the body's response to stress, wherein the sympathetic nervous system releases epinephrine from the adrenal glands, inducing the well-known 'fight or flight' reaction.
Humoral stimuli,...
Hypothalamic-Pituitary Axis01:37

Hypothalamic-Pituitary Axis

The response to stress—be it physical or psychological, acute or chronic—involves activation of the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) axis. The HPA axis is part of the neuroendocrine system because it involves both neuronal and hormonal communication. Its function is to regulate homeostatic systems—metabolic, cardiovascular, and immune—providing the necessary means to respond to a stressor.
Anatomy of the Adrenal Glands01:17

Anatomy of the Adrenal Glands

The adrenal or supra-renal glands, situated above the kidneys and aligned with the twelfth rib, are paired pyramid-shaped structures crucial for the body's stress response. During stress, these glands secrete hormones vital for adaptive physiological reactions.
These glands possess a distinctive yellow tinge due to the stored cholesterol and fatty acids required for hormone synthesis. They are encased in a fibrous capsule and cushioned by fat.
The adrenal gland comprises two distinct regions...
Adrenergic Receptors: β Subtype01:26

Adrenergic Receptors: β Subtype

β-adrenoceptors have varied sensitivities towards adrenaline, noradrenaline, and isoprenaline. The order of agonist potency is as follows:
Isoprenaline > Adrenaline > Noradrenaline
Neurotransmitter binding to these receptors causes activation of adenylyl cyclase resulting in increased concentrations of cAMP and modulation of calcium ion channels within the cell. They are further classified into β1, β2, and β3 subtypes.
β1-adrenoceptors: β1-adrenoceptors have equal affinities for...
Sympathetic Signaling01:31

Sympathetic Signaling

Sympathetic signaling, a vital part of the autonomic nervous system, plays a crucial role in mobilizing the body's resources in response to stress or emergencies. It involves the transmission of nerve impulses from sympathetic preganglionic fibers to postganglionic fibers. This results in the release of specific neurotransmitters and activation of adrenergic receptors.
Sympathetic preganglionic fibers release the neurotransmitter acetylcholine (ACh) onto the ganglionic neurons in the...