Effects of N-acylethanolamines and various antimitotic agents on apoptotic DNA fragmentation in conventionally normal and tumor tissue of human adrenals.

Aim: To study effects of N-acylethanolamines (NAE) and various antimitotic agents: taxol, colchicine, and cytochalasin B on the DNA fragmentation extent in conventionally normal (CNT) and tumor tissue of human adrenal cortex.

Methods: Six types of adrenal tumor tissue of 84 patients were analyzed. Slices of tissue was incubated at 37 degrees C for 3 h in the presence of NAEs and antimitotics, DNA was extracted and analysed in agarose gel.

[Investigation of N-acylethanolamines on adrenal cortex function].

The possibility of NAE to take part in the regulation of the function of adrenal glands was studied. It was shown that two times NAE (18:0) injection in a dose 5 mg/kg of weight increased the content of 11-hydroxysteroids in blood of intact male rats. NAE caused the raise of the blood hormone content in 4 fold under the immobilization stress.

[Effect of N-acylethanolamines on adrenal cortex function].

The possibility of NAE to take part in the regulation of the function of adrenal glands was studied. It was shown that two times NAE (18:0) injection in a dose 5 mg/kg of weight increased the content of 11-hydroxysteroids in blood of intact male rats. NAE caused the raise of the blood hormone content by 4 times under the immobilization stress.

[The GABA-ergic system parameters of the adrenal cortex in animals with normal and stimulated steroidogenesis].

Activity of glutamate decarboxylase, a GABA synthesis enzyme, and intensity of its reception in the adrenal cortex and hypothalamus of guinea pigs and rats with normal and stimulated steroidogenesis was investigated. It has been shown that in the adrenal cortex there is a metabolic system which provides GABA synthesis from glutamate and mechanisms of GABA reception by plasmatic membranes. Mediator synthesis in the adrenal cortex is subjected to seasonal changes, GABA synthesis and reception selectively vary with administration of ACTH, prolactin and maintenance of animals on a diet with an excess of potassium ions.