Stimulation of Steroid Secretion in Adrenal Tumor Cells by Choleragen

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Abstract
Choleragen, the pure protein from cholera toxin, stimulates steroid secretion by Y-1 adrenal tumor cells in culture. The secreted steroids are the same as seen after addition of adrenocorticotropic hormone. Half-maximal stimulation occurs at 15 pM; stimulation is essentially irreversible by washing and partially reversible (for about 1 hr) by antibody, and there is a latent period of about 60 min before stimulation is seen. Stimulation of adenylate cyclase occurs at about 30-fold higher choleragen concentrations. Gangliosides inhibit choleragen stimulation when added before but not after the toxin. Lipopolysaccharides from Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhosa , and Serratia marcescens also stimulate steroid secretion, but are less potent than choleragen.