Stimulation by polypeptides of dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate synthesis in human fetal adrenal slices

Slices of human fetal adrenal glands (obtained after abortion at 10-18 weeks of gestation) were superfused sequentially with buffer or with buffer incorporating human ACTH, synthetic ACTH (1-24), human GH, human chorionic gonadotrophin, alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone, metenkephalin, ovine prolactin, beta-lipotrophic hormone or corticotrophin-like intermediate lobe peptide in concentrations from 10(-6) to 10(-9) mol/l. Changes in the concentration of dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DHAS) in the effluent in response to addition or removal of the polypeptides were measured by radioimmunoassay. Comparison of the quantity of DHAS in the effluent collected during superfusion (5h) with that present in the tissue initially indicated that synthesis of this conjugated steroid occurred during superfusion. Increases in the concentration of DHAS in the effluent were provoked by exposure of the tissue to all the polypeptides except corticotrophin-like intermediate lobe peptide. These effects were unlikely to be non-specific since incorporation of gonadotrophins, albumin or dextran into the superfusate did not stimulate corticosteroid synthesis from viable bovine adrenal tissue. It was concluded that a number of pituitary polypeptides have the potential to provoke androgen sulphate synthesis by the human fetal gland in early gestation. Consequently there may be no single fetal corticotrophin at this stage and androgen production may be regulated by a number of trophic factors.