A long-term daily s.c. injection of Dex inhibits corticosterone synthesis which, in marked contrast, is increased upon a similar treatment with CpdX, CpdX(eA), CpdX(eB), CpdX-D3, CpdX-D3(eA), or CpdX-D3(eB). (A) H–E staining of adrenal gland sections. The cortex layer of the adrenal gland is indicated in Left by double-headed thin arrows, whereas the fasciculata and the glomerulosa zones of the cortex are indicated by long bold double-headed arrows and small empty double-headed arrows in Right, respectively (Scale bar represents 50 and 25 µm, respectively). (B) Locations of nGREs present in the promoter regions of Cyp11a, Cyp11b, HSD3β, and Cyp11b2 genes. (C) Q-RT-PCR for transcripts of Cyp11a, Cyp11b1, HSD3β, and Cyp11b2 genes in adrenal glands of mice treated for 3 mo as indicated. Data are represented as mean ± SEM for, at least, nine mice per treatment. The statistical significance of the data compared with vehicle treatment was calculated by Student t test; (*) P < 0.05; (**) P < 0.01; (***) P < 0.001. (D) Plasmatic corticosterone levels at 10 AM and 6 PM in mice treated for 3 mo as indicated. Data are represented as mean ± SEM with, at least, nine mice per treatment.