FIGURE 2.
Cortisol levels in culture medium. A, effects of progesterone and metyrapone on cortisol synthesis in HEK are shown. Cells were incubated with progesterone (10−6 m) and/or metyrapone (10−3 m) for 24 h (n = 4). Progesterone as a substrate stimulates cortisol production (p < 0.01), and metyrapone inhibits it (p < 0.05). Data represent the mean ± S.D. and were analyzed by one-way ANOVA (F = 463.89; p < 0.0001) and Dunnett's post hoc test (*, p < 0.05; **, p < 0.01). B, ACTH stimulates cortisol production, and metyrapone inhibits it (p < 0.01). HEK were incubated with/without ACTH (10−7 m) for 24 h. Metyrapone co-treatment reverses the effect of ACTH (p < 0.01). Data represent the mean ± S.D. (n = 4) and were analyzed by one-way ANOVA (F = 73.85; p < 0.0001) and Tukey's post hoc test (*, p < 0.01). C, effects of progesterone and metyrapone on cortisol synthesis in skin are shown. Skin explants were incubated with progesterone (10−6 m) and/or metyrapone (10−3 m) for 24 h (n = 3). Progesterone as a substrate stimulates cortisol production (p < 0.01), and metyrapone inhibits it (p < 0.05). Data represent the mean ± S.D. and were analyzed by one-way ANOVA (F = 142.66; p < 0.0001) and Dunnett's post hoc test (*, p < 0.05; **, p < 0.01). D, ACTH stimulates cortisol production. Skin punches were incubated with/without ACTH (10−7 m) for 6 h (p < 0.01). Metyrapone co-treatment reverses the effect of ACTH (p < 0.001). Data represent the mean ± S.D. (n = 4) and were analyzed by one-way ANOVA (F = 176.27; p < 0.0001) and Tukey's post hoc test (*, p < 0.01; **, p < 0.001).