Figure 2.

Induction of STAR and steroidogenic enzyme mRNAs following addition of hormonal stimuli. Primary cell cultures from AIMAH tissues (white bars) or from normal adrenals, ACTH-dependent adrenocortical hyperplasia, adenomas or carcinomas (other, black bars) were incubated for 48 hours in the presence of hormones depicted on X-axis. Concentrations used are summarized in Table 4. The mRNA levels of STAR, CYP11A1, HSD3B2, CYP17A1, CYP21A2 and CYP11B1 were studied by quantitative RT-PCR and calculated relative to HPRT1 expression. Data are represented as mean+SEM. *p<0.05, **p<0.01, compared to basal level (Wilcoxon signed rank) or between pathological entities (Mann–Whitney U test).