K. Uhlmann et al., Basal catecholamine and cortisol secretion in primary chromaffin cell cultures before and after purification and retroviral transfection, ENDOCRINE R, 24(3-4), 1998, pp. 753-757
We have investigated the effects of supraphysiological concentrations of ca
techolamines on glucocorticoid secretion in vitro. These effects were analy
zed in adrenocortical cells shown to be present in chromaffin cell cultures
as well as in cortical cells cocultured with transfected chromaffin cells
that overproduce catecholamines. Cortisol release from residual cortical ce
lls in chromaffin cell cultures was found to be 2.5 times higher than from
isolated adrenocortical cells. Removal of the adrenocortical cells from the
chromaffin cells resulted in an almost complete cessation of cortisol secr
etion. Catecholamine overproduction was achieved by transfecting chromaffin
cells with the blank retroviral vector pSAM-EN. Coculture of adrenocortica
l cells with these transfected chromaffin cells further enhanced the stimul
ating effect of chromaffin cells on cortisol 2.3-fold compared to normal co
cultures. In conclusion, cortical cells in chromaffin cell cultures secrete
significant amounts of cortisol, which should be considered when evaluatin
g the endocrine function of these cell cultures and which can be abolished
by purification. The hormonal activity of adrenocortical cells is highly in
creased in an environment of catecholamine overproduction, which is of both
basic and clinical importance.