Involvement of JAK-STAT-SOCS3 Pathway in the Regression of Mice X-Zone of Adrenal Cortex

Previously, we showed that the histological markers of the mice X-zone of adrenal cortex were still present in adult male and female postpartum SF1/SOCS3KO mice. Abnormal distribution of lipid droplets along the adrenal cortex and reduced ACTH-induced corticosterone secretion were observed in SF1/SOCS3KO mice (1). Here we have examined the adrenals of the SF1/SOCS3KO male and virgin female at 3, 8, 15 and 30 weeks through morphological and molecular analysis. Hematoxylin-eosin stains showed X-zone retention in the SF1/SOCS3KO mice adrenals regardless of the postnatal age analyzed. CYP17A1-positive cells were immunolocalized in the X-zone of SF1/SOCS3KO mice that were confirmed by immunoblotting. A fetal adrenal enhancer (FAdE) and Pik3c2g and 20αHSD genes expression were analyzed by RT-PCR, and these genes were present in the male SF1/SOCS3KO mice up to the age of 8 and 15 weeks, but not in the control mice. Therefore, we showed retention of X-zone in the adrenal cortex of SOCS3KO mice up to the age of 30 week, which suggest the involvement of JAK/STAT/SOCS3 signaling pathway in the differentiation process of adrenal cortex. Reference: (1) Pedroso et al., J Endocrinol.2017 Dec;235(3):207–222.