[Influence of metanandamide on steroidogenesis in rat adrenocorticocytes in vitro]

It is known from literature about antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, membrane protective and adreniregulatory properties of N-acetylethanolamines, but data concerning their participation in regulation of steroidogenesis are insufficient. In order to study the influence of a synthetic analogue of endogenous canabinoid anandamide - metanandamide - on the intensity of steroidogenesis the influence of different concentrations of the drug on the contents of 11-hydroxicorticosteroides (11-HCS) in the culture medium after incubation of adrenal tissue in rats of both sexes was investigated. The quantitative determination of 11-HCS was conducted by fluorometric micromethod. It was shown that the incubation of tissue sections with metanandamide leads to a reduction of 11-HCS in males and an increase of their content in females. It was concluded that the inhibition of corticosteroid secretion and synthesis in males may be due to reduction of cAMP and inhibition of cAMP-dependent protein kinase A (PKA) under the effect of metanandamide. The opposite and dose-dependent effects of the preparation in females may be connected with the estrogen influence on the mechanisms of drug effect realization.