0000000000372882
AUTHOR
Giuseppina D'ancona
Morphological and biochemical effects of glucocorticoids in chick embryo hepatocytes during development
Abstract The administration in ovo of hydrocortisone-21-phosphate caused, in chick embryo liver, a reduction of the number of hepatocytes which can be isolated from 1 mg dry weight of liver and a marked increase of their size. Moreover, the treatment diminished the incorporation of thymidine into acid-insoluble fraction in these cells whilst it augmented the content of protein, RNA, DNA and the level of thymidine kinase/cell. These effects were highest at 8–10 days, then declined with the age, disappearing after 18th day of incubation. Similar effects were obtained by injecting other glucocorticoids or ACTH. Combined treatment with metopirone abolished the effects found with ACTH, but did n…
Influence of hydrocortisone on chick embryo retina development
Treatment of chick embryos in ovo with hydrocortisone-21-phosphate (a single dose of 150 micrograms) caused a marked reduction of retinal thymidine kinase activity 24 h later. The inhibitory effect was highest (65-70%) in 8-10-day-old embryos and declined with age, disappearing after day 15. It was accompanied by a reduction in thickness of the retinal layers. Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) treatment (10 micrograms daily for 2 days) also produced an age-dependent inhibitory effect on retinal thymidine kinase, whereas treatment with a single dose of 200 micrograms of metopirone, a compound that prevents the 11 beta-hydroxylation of steroid molecules in the adrenal glands, impeded the dec…