Transplantation of normal and genetically modified adrenocortical cells

Cell transplantation techniques have been applied to the study of the biolo gy of the adrenal cortex and to adrenocortical cell proliferation, differen tiation, and senescence. Primary bovine adrenocortical cells, primary human adrenocortical cells and genetically modified bovine adrenocortical cells have been transplanted. Successful methods include transplantation of cells beneath the kidney capsule and several subcutaneous cell transplantation p rocedures. In successful transplants the cells form a functional vasculariz ed tissue structure that allows the host animals to survive adrenalectomy. We show here that subcutaneous cell transplantation does not depend on embe dding cells in collagen gel before introduction into the host animal. Subcu taneous transplants secrete both cortisol and aldosterone. However, the var iability of plasma aldosterone levels indicates that the factors that deter mine glomerulosa-type and fasciculata-type cell function in transplant tiss ues are not well understood.