Stimulation of chick adrenal steroidogenesis by avian parathyroid hormone

Dispersed chick adrenocortical cells were incubated with avian parathyroid hormone (aPTH) or ACTH. Accumulation of cyclic AMP (cAMP), activity of cAMP-dependent protein kinase and the secretion of corticosterone and aldosterone, in response to these hormones, were measured. Accumulation of cAMP and activity of cAMP-dependent protein kinase were stimulated by both aPTH and ACTH as well as by cholera toxin. Cyclic AMP production followed a similar time-course when stimulated by either peptide hormone. Stimulation of steroid hormone secretion was detectable after 20 min of incubation with ACTH, but only after 40 min with aPTH. The maximal steroid hormone secretion by adrenocortical cells was similar when induced by either peptide hormone. The aPTH concentrations needed for half-maximal response of corticosterone and aldosterone secretion were higher than those for ACTH (2.5- and 2-fold respectively), but still within the physiological range. The 11 beta-hydroxylase inhibitor metyrapone inhibited the secretion of both corticosterone and aldosterone when induced by either aPTH or ACTH. The results suggest that aPTH is almost as potent as ACTH in stimulating the secretion of corticosterone and aldosterone from chick adrenocortical cells and utilizes a cAMP-dependent pathway similar to that of ACTH.