Molecular genetic analysis of glucocorticoid signalling in development.

A null mutation of the glucocorticoid receptor was generated by homologous recombination. Mutant newborn mice showed impaired lung development, hypertrophy of the adrenal cortex and a strongly reduced size of the adrenal medulla. Phenylethanolamine N-methyltransferase (PNMT) was undetectable in the adrenals of the mutant mice. Serum levels of corticosterone were moderately and ACTH levels were strongly elevated in the mutants. A weaker but significant increase of corticosterone and ACTH was observed already in heterozygous animals. This points to a dysregulation of the HPA axis due to defective feedback regulation via the glucocorticoid receptor. Liver gluconeogenetic enzymes were reduced to a variable degree. Whereas survival of heterozygous mutants was not affected, most of the homozygous mutant mice died during the perinatal period.