Gonadotrophin and Steroid Binding to Adrenal Cortex Tissue of Female Brushtail Possum, Trichosurus vulpecula

Abstract

The adrenal cortex of the female common brushtail possum, Trichosurus vulpecula, contains an additional zone, the special zone, which responds to FSH and oestradiol by a change in the pattern of steroidogenesis. A preliminary report, presented herein, shows that both the cortex proper and the special zone have the ability to bind FSH; in addition, the cortex proper binds oestradiol, suggesting that receptors for these hormones may be present in these zones. Neither the cortex proper nor the special zone bound LH/hCG or progesterone.