FORSKOLIN TREATMENT DIRECTS STEROID-PRODUCTION TOWARDS THE ANDROGEN PATHWAY IN THE NCI-H295R ADRENOCORTICAL TUMOR-CELL LINE

The human adrenocortical tumour cell line, NCI-H295, secretes steroids on the mineralocorticoid, glucocorticoid and adrenal androgen pathway s. We have investigated the effects of 96 h treatment of cells in mono layer culture with either forskolin (10 mu M) (a direct activator of a denylate cyclase), angiotensin II (10 nM) or no agonist ('control') on the steroidogenic phenotype of this cell line. Androstenedione, corti sol and corticosterone secreted into the medium in response to a subse quent 4 hour treatment with angiotensin II (10nM) indicated that the s teroidogenic phenotype of NCI-H295 cells changes away from 17-deoxyste roid biosynthesis towards adrenal androgen production in response to f orskolin. The NCI-H295R cell line therefore serves as a useful model f or investigation of the differential regulation of the steroidogenic p athways in the human adrenal cortex.