The effect of hypoxia from birth on the regulation of aldosterone in the 7-day-old rat: Plasma hormones, steroidogenesis in vitro, and steroidogenic enzyme messenger ribonucleic acid

Adaptation to hypoxia in the neonate requires an appropriate adrenocortical response. The purpose of this study was to examine the adaptation of the aldosterone pathway in rat pups exposed to hypoxia in vivo from birth to 7 days of age. Neonatal rats (with their lactating dams) were exposed to normoxia (21% O₂) or hypoxia (12% O₂) continuously for 7 days from birth. Trunk blood was collected, and entire adrenal glands were processed from 7-day-old rats to study the activity of the steroidogenic pathway in dispersed cells and isolated mitochondria, for measurement of expression of the steroidogenic enzyme messenger RNAs (mRNAs) by RT-competitive PCR and in situ hybridization histochemistry, for measurement of zona glomerulosa width by immunohistofluorescent staining for P450c11AS protein, and for measurement of mitochondrial number and distribution by transmission electron microscopy. Exposure to hypoxia for 7 days from birth resulted in a marked increase in plasma ACTH, corticosterone, and aldosterone with no change in PRA. Aldosteronogenesis and P450c11AS activity were both augmented in dispersed cells; this effect was lost in isolated mitochondria (from entire adrenal glands) using a permeable substrate for P450c11AS. There was no significant effect of hypoxia on expression of the steroidogenic enzyme mRNAs measured by RT-competitive PCR or in situ hybridization histochemistry. Finally, hypoxia had no effect on mitochondrial number or stereology as assessed by transmission electron microscopy or on zona glomerulosa width as assessed by staining for P450c11AS protein. We conclude that, as opposed to that in adults, hypoxia in the neonate results in an augmentation of aldosteronogenesis. This effect is not accounted for by a change in steroidogenic enzyme mRNA expression, zona glomerulosa width (i.e. hyperplasia), or mitochondrial number or distribution. This functional augmentation of aldosteronogenesis may be due to a change in mitochondrial permeability to steroid substrates and/or the effect of cytosolic factors that control mitochondrial steroidogenesis.