ADRENARCHE IS ASSOCIATED WITH DECREASED 3-BETA-HYDROXYSTEROID DEHYDROGENASE EXPRESSION TN THE ADRENAL RETICULARIS

The increased production of adrenal dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and DHEA-sulfate (DHEAS) which occurs during the prepubertal period is kno wn as adrenarche. One hypothesis for adrenarche is that alterations in intra-adrenal expression of steroidogenic enzymes within the inner re ticularis zone leads to the increased production of 19-carbon steroids . We tested the hypothesis that at the time of adrenarche there is dec reased expression of 3 beta HSD in the reticularis. Immunohistochemica l localization of 3 beta HSD was performed and staining intensities co mpared between adrenal glands from children ages 4 months to 7 years ( N=11) and ages 8 to 11 years (N=6). No difference was observed between the levels of staining in the glomerulosa and fasciculata from either age group. However, the reticularis from the older children exhibited diminished 3 beta HSD immunoreactivity. These findings suggest that a s children mature there is a decreased level of 3 beta HSD in the adre nal reticularis which may contribute to the increased production of DH EA and DHEAS seen during adrenarche.