Abstract
Interrenal-like tissue in male African catfish is localized in paired organs, situated retroperitoneally anterior of the kidney. Histological and enzyme-histochemical (3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase) reactions were carried out on sections of these organs in order to localize steroid-producing cells. In vitro incubations were carried out to determine the steroidogenic capacity of the interrenal-like tissue. Twenty-one steroids could be identified and quantified in the incubation medium, by means of gas chromatography followed by mass spectrometry. Cortisol, 5α-and 5β-androstanedione and androstenedione together comprised about 80% of the total steroid content. In a previous study, twenty testicular steroids were detected in plasma after castration. In the present investigation we have shown that most of these steroids can be produced by the interrenal-like tissue, which thus can be considered as an extra-testicular source of gonadal steroids.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Andò S, Canonaco M, Beribaldi E, Valenti A, Maggiolini M, Piro A, Tavolaro R, Dessì-Fulgheri F (1988) The evaluation of androgen circulating levels following castration in adult male rats. Exp Clin Endocrinol 91:37–45
Andò S, Canonaco M, Valenti A, Aquila S, Tavolaro R, Maggiolini M, Panno ML, Dessì-Fulgheri F (1989) The in vitro conversion of 3H-androstenedione to testosterone and dihydrotestosterone in the adrenal gland of castrated male rat: influence of gonadal steroid administration. Exp Clin Endocrinol 93:83–89
Arai R, Tajima H, Tamaoki B (1969) In vitro transformation of steroids by the head kidney, the body kidney, and the corpuscles of Stannius of the rainbow trout (Salmo gairderi). Gen Comp Endocrinol 12:99–109
Balm PHM, Lambert JGD, Wendelaar Bonga SE (1989) Corticosteroid biosynthesis in the interrenal cells of the teleost fish, Oreochromis mossambicus. Gen Comp Endocrinol 76:53–62
Bara G (1968) Histochemical study of 3β-, 3α-, 11β-, and 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases in the adrenocortical tissue and the corpuscles of Stannius of Fundulus heteroclitus. Gen Comp Endocrinol 10:126–137
Bardin CW, Peterson RE (1967) Studies of androgen production by the rat: testosterone and androstenedione content of blood Endocrinology 80:38–44
Bélanger B, Bélanger A, Labrie F, Dupont A, Cusan J, Monfette G (1989) Comparison of residual C-19 steroids in plasma and prostatic tissue of human, rat and guinea pig after castration: unique importance of extratesticular androgens in men. J Steroid Biochem 32:695–698
Bélanger B, Couture J, Caron S, Bodou P, Fiet J, Bélanger A (1990) Production and secretion of C-19 steroids by rat and guinea pig adrenals. Steroids 55:360–365
Bélanger B, Caron S, Bodou P, Fiet J, Bélanger A (1992) Adrenal steroidogenesis in the guinea pig: effects of androgens. Steroids 57:76–81
Bhattacharyya TK, Butler DG (1979) Fine structure of the adrenocortical homologue in the North American eel and modifications following seawater adaptation. Anat Rec 193:213–232
Bidlingmaier F, Dorr HG, Eisenmenger W, Kuhnle U, Knorr D (1986) Contribution of the adrenal gland to the production of androstenedione and testosterone during the first two years of life. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 62:331–335
Canonaco M, Andò S, Valenti A, Tavolaro R, Panno ML, Maggioline M, Dessì-Fulgheri F (1989) The in vitro transformation of [3H]dehydroepiandrosterone into its principal metabolites in the adrenal cortex of adult castrated male rats and following steroid treatment. J Endocrinol 121:419–424
Chavin W (1966) Adrenal histochemistry of some freshwater and marine teleosts. Gen Comp Endocrinol 6:183–194
Hansson T, Gustafsson JÄ (1981) Sex differences in the hepatic in vitro metabolism of 4-androstene-3,17-dione in rainbow trout, Salmo gairdneri. Gen Comp Endocrinol 44:181–188
Hyatt PJ, Bell JBG, Bhatt K, Tait JF (1983) Preparation and steroidogenic properties of purified zona fasciculata and zona reticularis cells from the guinea-pig adrenal gland. J Endocrinol 96:1–14
Jung B, Moritz M-E, Berchtold J-P (1981) Fine structure and function of interrenal (adrenocortical) cells of dexamethasonetreated trout (Salmo fario L.). Cell Tissue Res 214:641–649
Kime DE (1978) The hepatic catabolism of cortisol in teleost fish-adrenal origin of 11-oxo-testosterone precursors. Gen Comp Endocrinol 35:322–328
Kitay JI, Coyne MD, Newsome W, Nelson R (1965) Relation of the ovary to adrenal corticosteroid production and adrenal enzyme activity in the rat. Endocrinology 77:902–907
Mayer I, Borg B, Schulz R (1990) Conversion of 11-ketoandrostenedione to 11-ketotestosterone by blood cells of six fish species. Gen Comp Endocrinol 77:70–74
Nandi J (1962) The structure of the interrenal gland in teleost fishes. Univ Calif Publ Zool 65:129–212
Oguri M (1982) Interrenal gland and chromaffin cells. In: Hibiya T (ed) An atlas of fish histology. Kodansha, Tokyo and Fisher, Stuttgart, pp 126–130
Schoonen WGEJ, Lambert JGD, Van Oordt PGWJ (1988) Quantitative analysis of steroids and steroid glucuronides in the seminal vesicle fluid of feral spawning and feral and cultivated non-spawning African catfish, Clarias gariepinus. Gen Comp Endocrinol 70:91–100
Schreck CB, Bradford CS, Fitzpatrick MS, Patiño R (1989) Regulation of the interrenal of fishes: non-classical control mechanisms. Fish Physiol Biochem 7:259–265
Schulz R (1986) In vitro metabolism of steroid hormones in the liver and in blood cells of male rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri Richardson). Gen Comp endocrinol 64:312–319
Schulz R, Blüm V (1991) Extragonadal 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activity in raibow trout. Gen Comp Endocrinol 82:197–205
Van den Hurk R (1973) The localization of steroidogenesis in the testes of oviparous and viviparous teleosts. Proc Koninkl Ned Acad Wetensch Series C 76:270–279
Vermeulen GJ, Lambert JGD, Lenczowksi MJP, Goos HJT (1993) Steroid hormone secretion by testicular tissue from African catfish, Clarias gariepinus, in primary culture: identification and quantification by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Fish Physiol Biochem 12:21–30
Vermeulen GJ, Lambert JGD, Van der Looy MJW, Goos HJTh (1994) Gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric (GC-MS) analysis of gonadal steroids in plasma of the male African catfish, Clarias gariepinus: effects of castration or treatment with gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogue. Gen Comp Endocrinol 96:288–297
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Vermeulen, G.J., Lambert, J.G.D., Teitsma, C.A. et al. Adrenal tissue in the male African catfish, Clarias gariepinus: localization and steroid hormone secretion. Cell Tissue Res 280, 653–657 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00318367
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00318367