Figure 5.

Decreased ex vivo adrenal steroidogenesis in ACSL4 KO mice. (A) Ex vivo corticosterone production. Adrenals from 12- to 24-wk-old female mice (n = 9) were cut in half and cultured ex vivo. After 0.5-h preincubation, media were changed with fresh media with or without 2.5 mM of Bt₂cAMP and incubated for another 1 h. Corticosterone levels in the media were measured. (B) Total adrenal protein. Protein content in tissue extracts of adrenals was assayed using bicinchoninic acid reagent. Total protein content of the adrenals was assayed and expressed as a percentage of the animal’s body weight. (C) Effects of HDL on ex vivo corticosterone production. Adrenals from 12- to 24-wk-old female mice (n = 9) were cut in half and cultured ex vivo. After 0.5-h preincubation, media were changed with fresh media with 2.5 mM of Bt₂cAMP and with or without HDL (500 µg CE/mL) and incubated for another 1 h. Corticosterone levels in the media were measured. Data are expressed as means ± SEM. *P < 0.05; **P < 0.01; ***P < 0.005. -, without; +, with.