[The influence of protein kinases ERK, JNK and nuclear transcriptional factor c-JUN on corticotropin signal transduction in adrenocortical cells].

The estradiol effect on the expression level of ERK1/2, JNK, p38 mitogen-activated protein kinases, c-Jun and c-Fos transcription factors in the adrenal cortex of male rats was studied. It was shown that a single corticotropin injection caused significant changes of the ERK1/2 protein kinases levels in the adrenal cortex. This index was 1.6 times higher 1 h after the injection and was decreased 6 h after the injection. The corticotropin influence on JNK level is very significant. The protein kinase JNK level was 2.4-fold increased I h after and was decreased 6 h after the injection. However, the level of p38 kinase was not changed in these conditions. The level of c-Jun transcriptional factor increased 1.7 times 1 h after corticotropin treatment and continued decreasing with the increase of time after the injection. The level of c-Fos factor increased 1.7 times only 6 h after the injection. These changes may be an important factor of activation of adrenocortical function provoked by corticotropin.