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Effects of Chromium(III) Picolinate on Cortisol and DHEAs Secretion in H295R Human Adrenocortical Cells

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Abstract

Dietary chromium(III) picolinate (CrPic) effects on circulating steroid hormones have been reported in various experimental animals. However, direct effects of CrPic on adrenocortical steroidogenesis are uncertain. Therefore, the objective was to determine the effects of CrPic on cortisol and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAs) secretion from H295R cells. In experiment 1, a 24-h exposure to CrPic (0 to 200 μM) had both linear (p < 0.001) and quadratic (p < 0.001) effects on cortisol secretion from forskolin-stimulated cells with the highest cortisol secretion at 0.1 μM of CrPic and the lowest at 200 μM of CrPic. In experiment 2, a 48-h exposure to CrPic (200 μM) decreased cortisol (p < 0.07) release from forskolin-stimulated cells during a 24-h collection period. In experiment 3, a 48-h exposure to CrPic (100 μM) decreased cortisol (p < 0.05) and DHEAs (p < 0.01) from forskolin-stimulated cells during a 24-h sampling period. In experiment 4, a 24-h exposure to forskolin followed by a 24-h exposure to both forskolin and CrPic (100 and 200 μM) decreased both cortisol and DHEAs secretion (p < 0.01). This study suggests that at high concentrations, CrPic inhibits aspects of steroidogenesis in agonist-stimulated adrenocortical cells.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank Mrs. S. Hayes, University of Kentucky, for assistance in radioimmunoassay, and Dr. R. A. Anderson, USDA-ARS, and Dr. J. C. Matthews, University of Kentucky, for helpful comments. Special appreciation is expressed to Nutrition 21, Purchase, NY, for partial support for this study. During this research, B. G. Kim was a recipient of the Presidential Graduate Fellowship and the Kentucky Opportunity Fellowship at the University of Kentucky.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Animal and Food Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, 40546, USA

    Beob G. Kim & Merlin D. Lindemann

  2. Department of Physiology, Chandler Medical Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, 40546, USA

    Julye M. Adams & Brian A. Jackson

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  1. Beob G. Kim
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Correspondence to Merlin D. Lindemann.

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Kim, B.G., Adams, J.M., Jackson, B.A. et al. Effects of Chromium(III) Picolinate on Cortisol and DHEAs Secretion in H295R Human Adrenocortical Cells. Biol Trace Elem Res 133, 171–180 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-009-8433-7

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