Lk. Malendowicz et al., Prolonged orexin administration stimulates steroid-hormone secretion, acting directly on the rat adrenal gland, INT J MOL M, 7(4), 2001, pp. 401-404
Orexins A and B are two hypothalamic peptides, that play a role in the cent
ral control of food intake. Orexins act via two subtypes of receptors: OX1R
which is selective for orexin A, and OX2R which binds both orexins. Revers
e transcription-polymerase chain reaction demonstrated the expression of bo
th OX1R and OX2R gene in the adrenal cortex of adult female rats. The prolo
nged systemic administration of orexins A and B (20 ng/kg.day, for 7 days)
affected neither adrenal weight and the morphology of adrenocortical zones
(as evaluated by morphometric techniques) nor ACTH plasma concentration in
rats. In contrast, the treatment with both orexins increased plasma concent
ration of both aldosterone and corticosterone. Taken together, these findin
gs indicate that orexins exert a marked direct chronic secretagogue action
on adrenocortical cells, acting through both OX1R and OX2R.