ArticleThe Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism2021
The Age-Dependent Changes of the Human Adrenal Cortical Zones Are Not Congruent.
Article in The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 16 papers.
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Who cites it
16 citing papers in PubMed, 26 citations in OpenAlex.
- Current insights into monitoring of congenital adrenal hyperplasia.Frontiers in endocrinology · 2026Review
- Imbalances in adrenal hormones and their effects on bone metabolism.Endocrine journal · 2025Review
- Sexual dimorphism in benign adrenocortical tumours.European journal of endocrinology · 2025Review
- Adrenal aldosterone synthase (CYP11B2) histopathology and its association with disease-induced sudden death: a cross-sectional study.The Lancet regional health. Europe · 2025Article
- The Role of Cortisol and Dehydroepiandrosterone in Obesity, Pain, and Aging.Diseases (Basel, Switzerland) · 2025Review
- Epigenomic Alterations of the HumanInternational journal of molecular sciences · 2024Article
- Abiraterone in Classic Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia: Results of Medical Therapy Before Adrenalectomy.JCEM case reports · 2024Article
- Human-like adrenal features in Chinese tree shrews revealed by multi-omics analysis of adrenal cell populations and steroid synthesis.Zoological research · 2024Article
- Glucocorticoids with or without fludrocortisone in septic shock: a narrative review from a biochemical and molecular perspective.British journal of anaesthesia · 2024Review
- Time- and Gender-Dependent Alterations in Mice during the Aging Process.International journal of molecular sciences · 2023Article
- Age-related Changes in the Adrenal Cortex: Insights and Implications.Journal of the Endocrine Society · 2023Review
- Age-related morphometrics of normal adrenal glands based on deep learning-aided segmentation.Heliyon · 2023Article
- Accelerated telomere shortening in adrenal zona reticularis in patients with prolonged critical illness.Frontiers in endocrinology · 2023Article
- Normal and Premature Adrenarche.Endocrine reviews · 2021Review
- Targeted RNA sequencing of adrenal zones using immunohistochemistry-guided capture of formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue.Molecular and cellular endocrinology · 2021Article
- The Age-Dependent Changes of the Human Adrenal Cortical Zones Are Not Congruent.The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism · 2021Article
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Authors and funding
7 authors at 2 institutions in 2 countries.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundWhile previous studies indicate that the zonae reticularis (ZR) and glomerulosa (ZG) diminish with aging, little is known about age-related transformations of the zona fasciculata (ZF).
objectivesTo investigate the morphological and functional changes of the adrenal cortex across adulthood, with emphasis on (i) the understudied ZF and (ii) sexual dimorphisms.
methodsWe used immunohistochemistry to evaluate the expression of aldosterone synthase (CYP11B2), visinin-like protein 1 (VSNL1), 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type II (HSD3B2), 11β-hydroxylase (CYP11B1), and cytochrome b5 type A (CYB5A) in adrenal glands from 60 adults (30 men), aged 18 to 86. Additionally, we employed mass spectrometry to quantify the morning serum concentrations of cortisol, 11-deoxycortisol (11dF), 17α-hydroxyprogesterone, 11-deoxycorticosterone, corticosterone, and androstenedione in 149 pairs of age- and body mass index-matched men and women, age 21 to 95 years.
resultsThe total cortical area was positively correlated with age (r = 0.34, P = 0.008). Both the total (VSNL1-positive) and functional ZG (CYP11B2-positive) areas declined with aging in men (r = -0.57 and -0.67, P < 0.01), but not in women. The CYB5A-positive area declined with age in both sexes (r = -0.76, P < 0.0001). In contrast, the estimated ZF area correlated positively with age in men (r = 0.59, P = 0.0006) and women (r = 0.49, P = 0.007), while CYP11B1-positive area remained unchanged across ages. Serum cortisol, corticosterone, and 11-deoxycorticosterone levels were stable across ages, while 11dF levels increased slightly with age (r = 0.16, P = 0.007).
conclusionUnlike the ZG and ZR, the ZF and the total adrenal cortex areas enlarge with aging. An abrupt decline of the ZG occurs with age in men only, possibly contributing to sexual dimorphism in cardiovascular risk.
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