A possible role of "steroidogenic factor" in the corticoidogenic response to ACTH; Effect of ACTH, cycloheximide and aminoglutethimide on the content of cholesterol in the outer and inner mitochondrial membrane of rat adrenal cortex.

Abstract

The role of a steroidogenic factor in the corticoidogenic response to ACTH was studied. ACTH causd an accumulation of cholesterol within the adrenocortical mitochondria in rat after pretreatment with either cycloheximide (CH) or aminoglutethimide (AG). The cholesterol distribution in these cholesterol-rich mitochindria was examined by measuring the cholesterol concentrations in the outer and inner mitochondrial membranes. In the case of pretreatment with CH, cholesterol was accumulated in the outer membrane and not in the inner membrane. In contrast, in the case of pretreatment with AG, cholesterol was accumulated in the inner membrane and not in the outer membrane. The function of a steroidogenic factor in the corticoidogenic response to ACTH might take place at the step of cholesterol translocation from the outer mitochondrial membrane to the inner membrane.