스테로이드 호르몬의 합성은 콜레스테롤로부터 시작되고 Steroidogenic acute regulatory protein(StAR)은 스테로이드의 합성과정에서 콜레스테롤을 미토콘드리아의 안으로 신속하게 운반하는 역할을 한다. 스테로이드 호르몬은 난소, 부신, 고환에서 합성되며 본 연구에서는 흰쥐 난소와 부신에서 StAr mRNA의 발현 양상을 in situ hybridization 기법을 이용하여 조사하였다. 난소의 경우 StAR mRNa는 프로게스테론

The synthesis of steroid hormone starts from cholesterol. Steroidogenic acute regulatory protein(StAR) transfers cholesterol acutely from the outer mitochondrial membranes to the inner in the early step of steroidogenesis. Many kinds of steroid hormones are mainly synthesized in adrenal grand, ovary and testis. The purpose of this study is to determine the distribution of StAR mRNA in the rat ovary and adrenal gland and to confirm the functions of StAR in these organs. In the ovary, StAR mRNAs were strongly expressed in the corpus luteum, where progesterone is synthesized, and these were weakly expressed in the theca layer of follicles, where androgen is synthesized. However, StAR mRNAs were not detected in the estrogen producing granulosa cells of growing follicles. In the corpus luteum, StAR mRNAs were strongly loclized in the zona fasciculata and zona reticularis, where glucocorticoid is mainly synthesized. StAR mRNAs were weakly expressed in the zona gromerulosa, where mineralcorticoid is synthesized. StAR mRNAs were not detected in the adrenal medulla. In our results, StAR mRNAs were expressed differentially in the steroidogenic cells of ovary and adrenal gland according to the types of steroid hormones, and the statges of corpus luteum development. We conclude that StAR is involved in the steroidogenesis at the very early step of steroid synthesis cascade.

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