Novel presence of luteinizing hormone/chorionic gonadotropin receptors in human adrenal glands.

It has been well documented that a significant proportion of chronic anovulatory patients have elevated levels of dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) and luteinizing hormone (LH) and normal levels of adrenocortiocotropic hormone (ACTH). We tested the hypothesis that the zones of human adrenal cortex that secrete DHEAS may contain LH/human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) receptors. In situ hybridization showed the presence of hybridization signals representing LH/hCG receptor mRNA transcripts in the zona reticularis. Immunocytochemistry demonstrated that the zona reticularis also contained LH/hCG receptor protein. The receptor transcripts and receptor protein are also present in the deeper layer of the zona fasciculata which can also secrete DHEAS. Double immunostaining revealed that LH/hCG receptors are present in the same cells that contain cytochrome P450 side chain cleavage enzyme, suggesting that the receptor containing cells are steroidogenic. These findings may potentially explain higher DHEAS levels in chronic anovulatory women who have normal ACTH and elevated LH levels.