A6: Role of Adrenal Cortex-derived Androgens on Chromaffin Progenitor Cells in Adrenal Tissue Formation

Project leaders: Dr. M. Ehrhart-Bornstein / Prof. Dr. S. Bornstein

DHEA and DHEAS, major adrenocortical steroids and the most abundant hormones in humans, modulate both neurogenesis and neuronal survival and adrenal tissue formation, including adrenomedullary chromaffin cell proliferation and differentiation. A strategy was established to isolate chromaffin progenitor cells. Their differentiation to endocrine cells and neurons will be defined, specifically under the influence of DHEA(S). In vivo, their differentiation potential will be studied by intra-cerebral transplantation. The data are important to understand adrenal tissue formation and could open new avenues to cell-based therapies of neurodegenerative diseases.