The inhibitor of phospholipase-A2, AACOCF3, stimulates steroid secretion by dispersed human and rat adrenocortical cells

AACOF3 is a trifluomethylketone analog of arachidonic acid, which inhibits phospholipase-A2 (PLA2). AACOCF3 was found to concentration-dependently increase basal aldosterone and corticosterone secretion by dispersed rat zona glomerulosa and zona fasciculata/reticularis cells, respectively, as well as aldosterone and cortisol production by dispersed human adrenocortical cells. Maximal effective concentration was 10(-5) M, and elicited about 2.5-3.0-fold rises in steroid output. 10(-5) M AACOCF3 also enhanced submaximally (10(-15)/10(-12) M), but not maximally (10(-9) M) ACTH-stimulated hormonal secretion. Quantitative HPLC showed that 10(-5) M AACOCF3 evokes similar increases (from 2.0- to 3.0-fold) in the basal release of the entire spectrum of adrenocortical steroids (i.e. both intermediate and definitive products of steroid synthesis), thereby suggesting that AACOCF3 acts on the early steps of steroid synthesis. Accordingly, when pregnenolone metabolism is prevented by cyanoketone, 10(-5) M AACOCF3 increased by about 8-10-fold the production of this steroid. In conclusion, we have demonstrated a side-effect of AACOCF3, which may become relevant in studies where this chemical is used to inhibit PLA2 in tissues able to convert cholesterol to pregnenolone.     

The relationship between adrenal vascular events and steroid secretion: the role of mast cells and endothelin.

The actions of ACTH on the adrenal cortex are known to be 2-fold. In addition to increased steroidogenesis, ACTH also causes marked vasodilation, reflected by an increased rate of blood flow through the gland. Our studies, using the in situ isolated perfused rat adrenal preparation, have shown that zona fasciculata function and corticosterone secretion are closely related to vascular events, with an increase in perfusion medium flow rate causing an increase in corticosterone secretion, in the absence of any known stimulant. These observations give rise to two important questions: how does ACTH stimulate blood flow; and how does increased blood (or perfusion medium) flow stimulate steroidogenesis? Addressing the first question, we have recently identified mast cells in the adrenal capsule, and shown that Compound 48/80, a mast cell degranulator, mimics the actions of ACTH on adrenal blood flow and corticosterone secretion. We have also demonstrated an inhibition of the adrenal vascular response to ACTH in the presence of disodium cromoglycate, which prevents mast cell degranulation. We conclude, therefore, that ACTH stimulates adrenal blood flow by its actions on mast cells in the adrenal capsule. Addressing the second question, we looked at the role of endothelin in the rat adrenal cortex. Endothelin 1, 2 and 3 caused significant stimulation of steroid secretion by collagenase dispersed cells from both the zona glomerulosa and the zona fasciculata. A sensitive response was seen, with significant stimulation at an endothelin concentration of 10(-13) mol/l or lower. Endothelin secretion by the in situ isolated perfused rat adrenal gland was measured using the Amersham assay kit. Administration of ACTH (300 fmol) caused an increase in the rate of immunoreactive endothelin secretion, from an average of 28.7 +/- 2.6 to 52.6 +/- 6 fmol/10 min (P less than 0.01, n = 5). An increase in immunoreactive endothelin secretion was also seen in response to histamine, an adrenal vasodilator, which stimulates corticosterone secretion in the intact gland, but has no effect on collagenase-dispersed cells. From these data we conclude that endothelin may mediate the effects of vasodilation on corticosterone secretion, and this mechanism may explain some of the differences in response characteristics between the intact gland and dispersed cells.     

Role of chain termini in selective steroidogenic effect of ACTH/MSH(4-10) on isolated adrenocortical cells

To investigate the role of charged chain ends in the corticosteroidogenic effect of ACTH/MSH(4-10), acetyl and amide derivatives of ACTH/MSH(4-10) were synthesized and tested in isolated zona glomerulosa and zona fasciculata cells. ACTH/MSH(4-10)-NH2, Ac-ACTH/MSH(4-10) and Ac-ACTH/MSH(4-10)-NH2 (10 microM to 1 mM) stimulated the aldosterone production of zona glomerulosa cells, whereas these peptides did not stimulate the corticosterone production of zona fasciculata cells, even at 1 mM concentration. As ACTH/MSH(4-10) has been shown to have a steroidogenic effect on both types of adrenocortical cells, both charged chain termini seem to be essential for triggering of the corticosterone production of zona fasciculata cells, but for aldosterone production their presence appears not to be important.     

Effects of atrial natriuretic peptide AP II on the morphofunctional state of the adrenal cortex of white rats]

The effect of atrial natriuretic peptides synthetic analog AP II on adrenal zona glomerulosa and zona fasciculata physiological regeneration have been studied on male rats. The 3H-thymidine incorporation into DNA in adrenal cortical cells was evaluated in 4 and 24 h after intraperitoneal injection of 10 or 100 mcg/kg AP II. Besides, we have investigated the influence of AP II on adrenal cortical cells karyometric parameter in 4 and 24 h and aldosterone plasma concentration in 1 h after injection. 10 mcg/kg AP II increased the fraction of labelled nuclei in zona glomerulosa and decreased the aldosterone plasma level. No significant changes were seen in zona fasciculata cells proliferation. 100 mcg/kg AP II inhibited the DNA synthesis process in adrenal zona fasciculata, but had no significant influence on zona glomerulosa physiological regeneration and aldosterone plasma concentration. No nuclear morphometric parameter changes were observed in adrenal glomerulosa and fasciculata cells of AP II--treated animals.     

Control of aldosterone secretion in zona glomerulosa cell suspensions and in the perfused adrenal gland of the rat

The secretion of aldosterone and its responses to stimulation have been studied in rat adrenal zona glomerulosa tissue incubated as intact capsules or as collagenase-dispersed cell suspensions, and in intact perfused rat adrenal glands. Several differences are apparent in the functions of the various preparations. Aldosterone secretion rates are similar in incubated intact capsules and in the perfused gland. Relative to corticosterone, lower yields of aldosterone are obtained in dispersed glomerulosa cell in vitro. This may be related to the loss in the dispersed cells of a pool of tissue steroid (aldosterone or a precursor) which is revealed only in intact tissue incubations by trypsin stimulation of aldosterone secretion. Trypsin-released aldosterone is increased by prior dietary sodium restriction. In addition, differences occur in the responses of dispersed cells and perfused glands to stimulation. Perfused glands from animals on a normal diet are less sensitive to stimulation by ACTH or alpha-MSH, but more sensitive than dispersed cells to angiotensin II amide. In the perfused gland, sensitivity of response (lowest effective concentration) to all three stimulants is increased by prior dietary sodium restriction, in contrast to dispersed cells in which increased sensitivity has been reported only to alpha-MSH. The perfused gland is particularly sensitive to angiotensin II amide, and a bolus administration of 1 amol gives significant stimulation in glands from animals on low sodium intake. Electrical (field) stimulation or dopamine administration at 10(-6) mol/l (which is ineffective in dispersed cells) both depress aldosterone secretion by the perfused gland. The data suggest that the sequestered pool of steroid is utilized in the perfused gland for aldosterone secretion. They furthermore suggest that in the intact gland there are mechanisms, which involve neural components, for intraglandular regulation of aldosterone secretion, which are lost in dispersed cells in vitro. Such mechanisms may be involved in sensitivity increases in sodium depletion.     

Endothelin stimulates aldosterone biosynthesis by dispersed rabbit adreno-capsular cells

The effect of endothelin on aldosterone production by dispersed adreno-capsular cells from rabbits was examined. Porcine endothelin stimulated aldosterone production dose-dependently with an EC50 of 5 x 10(-14) M, but had no effect on corticosterone production. A calcium channel blocker, nicardipine, completely inhibited the stimulatory effect of endothelin on aldosterone production. Endothelin induced prompt and sustained increase in intracellular Ca2+ in fura-2-loaded cells, and nicardipine inhibited this increase in intracellular Ca2+. These results indicate that endothelin stimulates aldosterone biosynthesis in dispersed zona glomerulosa cells of rabbits, and that its effects is related to increase in intracellular calcium through voltage-dependent calcium channels.     

Endothelins stimulate aldosterone secretion from dispersed rat adrenal zona glomerulosa cells, acting through ETB receptors coupled with the phospholipase C-dependent signaling pathway

Compelling evidence indicates that endothelins (ETs) stimulates aldosterone secretion from rat zona glomerulosa (ZG) cells, acting through the ETB receptor subtype. We have investigated the mechanisms transducing the aldosterone secretagogue signal elicited by the pure activation of ETB receptors. Aldosterone response of dispersed rat ZG cells to the selective ETB-receptor agonist BQ-3020 was not affected by inhibitors of adenylate cyclase/protein kinase (PK)A, tyrosine kinase-, mitogen-activated PK-, cyclooxygenase- and lipoxygenase-dependent pathways. In contrast, the inhibitor of phospholipase C (PLC) U-73122 abrogated, and the inhibitors of PKC, phosphatidylinositol trisphosphate (IP(3))-kinase and calmodulin (calphostin-C, wortmannin and W-7, respectively) partially prevented aldosterone response to BQ-3020. When added together, calphostin-C and wortmannin or W-7 abolished the secretagogue effect of BQ-3020. BQ-3020 elicited a marked increase in the intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) in dispersed rat ZG cells, and the effect was abolished by the Ca(2+)-release inhibitor dantrolene. The Ca2+ channel blocker nifedipine affected neither aldosterone nor Ca2+ response to BQ-3020. Collectively, our findings suggest that (1) ETs stimulate aldosterone secretion from rat ZG cells through the activation of PLC-coupled ETB receptors; (2) PLC stimulation leads to the activation of PKC and to the rise in [Ca2+]i with the ensuing activation of calmodulin; and (3) the increase in [Ca2+] is exclusively dependent on the stimulation of IP(3)-dependent Ca2+ release from intracellular stores.     

醛固酮对心室成纤维细胞分泌内皮素的影响

用细胞培养、内皮素放射免疫测定和RT-PCR的方法,探讨醛固酮对心室成纤维细胞分泌内皮素的影响。结果显示,醛固酮(1×10     

Amiloride potentiates atrial natriuretic factor inhibitory action by increasing receptor binding in bovine adrenal zona glomerulosa

The interaction of atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) with the diuretic amiloride was studied in bovine adrenal zona glomerulosa. Amiloride enhances 2 to 3-fold high affinity binding of [125I] ANF to zona glomerulosa membrane receptor with an ED50 of 10 microM. This effect is due to a recruitement of high affinity receptor sites and to an increase of their affinity from a Kd of 23 to 8 pM. This enhancing effect is almost equipotently elicited by guanabenz, while clonidine is 20-fold less potent and arginine is inactive. ATP reduces by 30 to 50% [125I] ANF binding with an IC50 of 50 microM. Amiloride and ATP opposite effects on [125I] ANF binding are mutually competitive. Low concentrations of amiloride (less than 100 microM) potentiate the inhibitory effect of ANF in hormone-stimulated steroid secretion with a 3-fold decrease in ANF IC50 at 10 microM amiloride. Higher concentrations of amiloride (greater than 100 microM) directly inhibit aldosterone secretion with an IC50 of 500 microM and a maximum of 80 to 100% reversal of stimulation by various secretagogues. These results indicate that amiloride synergistically potentiates ANF inhibitory action by altering ANF receptor binding properties. They also suggest a role for sodium transport and for phosphorylation-dephosphorylation mechanisms in the mode of action of ANF.     

Gastric inhibitory polypeptide stimulates glucocorticoid secretion in rats, acting through specific receptors coupled with the adenylate cyclase-dependent signaling pathway.

Gastric inhibitory polypeptide (GIP) is a 42-amino acid peptide, belonging to the VIP-secretin-glucagon superfamily, some members of this group are able to regulate adrenocortical function. GIP-receptor mRNA has been detected in the rat adrenal cortex, but investigations on the effect of GIP on steroid-hormone secretion in this species are lacking. Hence, we have investigated the distribution of GIP binding sites in the rat adrenal gland and the effect of their activation in vivo and in vitro. Autoradiography evidenced abundant [125I]GIP binding sites exclusively in the inner adrenocortical layers, and the computer-assisted densitometric analysis of autoradiograms demonstrated that binding was displaced by cold GIP, but not by either ACTH or the selective ACTH-receptor antagonist corticotropin-inhibiting peptide (CIP). The intraperitoneal (IP) injection of GIP dose-dependently raised corticosterone, but not aldosterone plasma concentration: the maximal effective dose (10 nmol/rat) elicited a twofold increase. GIP did not affect aldosterone and cyclic-AMP release by dispersed zona glomerulosa cells. In contrast, GIP enhanced basal corticosterone secretion and cyclic-AMP release by dispersed inner adrenocortical cells in a concentration-dependent manner, and the maximal effective concentration (10(-7) M) evoked 1.5- and 2.4-fold rises in corticosterone and cyclic-AMP production, respectively. GIP (10(-7) M) did not display any additive or potentiating effect on corticosterone and cyclic-AMP responses to submaximal or maximal effective concentrations of ACTH. The corticosterone secretagogue action of 10(-7) M GIP was abolished by the protein kinase A (PKA) inhibitor H-89 (10(-5)M), and unaffected by CIP (10(-6)M). Collectively, these findings indicate that GIP exerts a moderate but statistically significant stimulatory effect on basal glucocorticoid secretion in rats, acting through specific receptors coupled with the adenylate cyclase/PKA-dependent signaling pathway.     

Aldosterone and corticosterone stimulation by ACTH in isolated rat adrenal glomerulosa cells: interaction with vasopressin

An interaction between ACTH and vasopressin on steroidogenesis was observed in isolated rat adrenal zona glomerulosa cell preparations. 1. The presence of 10(-11) M vasopressin further increased by 52% the output of aldosterone produced by 10(-12) M ACTH on those cells. 2. At a pharmacological concentration of ACTH (10(-7) M), the aldosterone output was increased 5 fold while the addition of 10(-12) M or 10(-8) M vasopressin decreased it by 17% and 48% respectively. 3. Vasopressin also produced a dose-dependent inhibition of the stimulatory effect of ACTH on the output of corticosterone. 4. We have thus shown for the first time, that vasopressin acts directly on adrenal zona glomerulosa cell preparations to modify the aldosterone output by modulating the action of ACTH. It is postulated that, in addition to other known aldosterone regulating factors, ACTH and vasopressin might synergistically act to regulate the secretion of aldosterone in vivo.     

Glucocorticoid suppression enhances the 18-hydroxycorticosterone and aldosterone response to metoclopramide in man

18-Hydroxycorticosterone (18-OHB) is a precursor of aldosterone and is the only corticosteroid, other than aldosterone, that is synthesized predominantly in the zona glomerulosa. Administration of the dopamine antagonist, metoclopramide results in parallel rises in plasma 18-OHB and aldosterone levels without affecting the plasma levels of other aldosterone precursors. However, 18-OHB is a product of the zona fasciculata as well as the glomerulosa. Thus, it is possible that metoclopramide may stimulate zona fasciculata secretion of 18-OHB. In order to more selectively examine dopaminergic regulation of zona glomerulosa secretion of 18-OHB we have examined the effect of glucocorticoid suppression of the fasciculata on the 18-OHB and aldosterone responses to metoclopramide, 10 mg iv in 6 normal volunteers. Dexamethasone, 2 mg every 6 hours for 5 days, suppressed basal levels of cortisol, corticosterone, 18-OHB and aldosterone. Dexamethasone treatment had no effect on basal levels of PRA or PRA responses to metoclopramide. The 18-OHB and aldosterone responses to metoclopramide were enhanced (p less than .05) by dexamethasone suppression. The results suggest that dopaminergic mechanisms selectively suppress glomerulosa production of 18-OHB. Endogenous ACTH may inhibit zona glomerulosa production of 18-OHB and aldosterone in response to the dopamine antagonist, metoclopramide.     

Further investigations on the atrial natriuretic factor (ANF)-induced inhibition of the growth and steroidogenic capacity of rat adrenal zona glomerulosa in vivo

A prolonged infusion with ANF (20 micrograms/kg/h for 7 days) induced atrophy of zona glomerulosa cells and lowering of basal plasma concentration of aldosterone in rats whose hypothalamo-hypophyseal-adrenal axis and renin-angiotensin system had been interrupted by the simultaneous administration of dexamethasone/captopril and maintenance doses of ACTH/angiotensin II. Chronic ANF treatment also caused comparable reductions in the aldosterone response of zona glomerulosa cells to the acute stimulation with angiotensin II, potassium and ACTH. These data are interpreted to indicate that ANF exerts an inhibitory effect on the growth and secretory activity of rat zona glomerulosa, and that the mechanism underlying this action of ANF does not involve blockade of renin release or ACTH secretion.     

High concentrations of a cGMP-stimulated phosphodiesterase mediate ANP-induced decreases in cAMP and steroidogenesis in adrenal glomerulosa cells.

An adrenal cGMP-stimulated phosphodiesterase (cGS-PDE) has been shown to mediate atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP)-induced reductions in aldosterone secretion and cAMP levels in primary bovine glomerulosa cells. High concentrations of cGS-PDE have been localized to the zona glomerulosa cell layer of the adrenal cortex using biochemical and immunological techniques. Immunoblot analysis using an affinity-purified, isozyme-specific antiserum revealed a single band that comigrated with a purified cGS-PDE (105 kDa) (1) and that was most highly concentrated in the outermost 1-2 mm of the cortex, representing the capsule and zona glomerulosa regions. Greater than 90% of the overall phosphodiesterase activity present in tissue extracts prepared from these regions was immunoprecipitated using a solid-phase monoclonal antibody reagent, indicating the cGS-PDE as the predominant phosphodiesterase isozyme. Immunohistochemical staining experiments of frozen thin sections of intact adrenal tissue revealed that the cGS-PDE present in this region was localized in the glomerulosa cells themselves. The role of this isozyme as a mediator of ANP-induced decreases in intracellular cAMP concentrations and aldosterone production was tested in primary cultures of bovine adrenal glomerulosa cells. In cells stimulated by ACTH, ANP treatment produced dose-dependent reductions in aldosterone secretion and cellular cAMP content over the same concentration range. Increases in aldosterone production elicited by three cell-permeable cAMP derivatives (8-bromo-cAMP, 8-p-chlorophenylthio-cAMP, and N6-2'-O-dibutyryl-cAMP) were antagonized by ANP, indicating a site of action distal to adenylate cyclase for this hormone. Because the relative magnitude of the ANP effect differed depending upon the derivative used, the three derivatives were compared with respect to their relative rates of in vitro hydrolysis by adrenal cGS-PDE. A positive correlation between their rates of hydrolysis and the degree to which the steroidogenic response produced by these derivatives was antagonized by ANP was demonstrated, further suggesting an ANP-induced activation of the cGS-PDE as being responsible for this effect. The possible contribution of an additional pathway mediated by an inhibitory guanine nucleotide binding regulatory protein (Gi) acting on adenylate cyclase was tested by pretreatment of primary glomerulosa cells with pertussis toxin. Levels of pertussis toxin sufficient to inhibit subsequent in vitro ribosylation did not significantly alter the ANP effect on aldosterone production, although a partial reduction in the ANP effect on cAMP levels was observed.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)     

Interaction of ACTH, beta-endorphin and alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone in relation to the corticosteroid production of isolated rat adrenocortical zona fasciculata and zona glomerulosa cells.

The combined effects of ACTH, beta-endorphin (beta-EP) and alpha-MSH were studied on the corticosteroidogenesis of isolated rat adrenocortical zona fasciculata and zona glomerulosa cells. beta-EP potentiated the effects of ACTH and alpha-MSH on the zona fasciculata corticosterone production but inhibited those on the zona glomerulosa aldosterone production. beta-EP did not affect the combined action of 4 x 10(-11) M ACTH and 5 x 10(-9) M alpha-MSH on the zona fasciculata or the zona glomerulosa cells, but it inhibited the stimulatory action of the combination of 1.6 x 10(-10) M ACTH and 10(-9) M alpha-MSH on the zona glomerulosa aldosterone production. An interaction of ACTH, beta-EP and alpha-MSH in relation to the zona fasciculata and zona glomerulosa corticosteroid production was found.     

Effects of IGF-I on proliferation and steroidogenesis of cultured adrenal zona glomerulosa cells

In a primary culture of bovine adrenal zona glomerulosa cells, insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I)/somatomedin C stimulated DNA synthesis, as measured by [3H] thymidine uptake, at concentrations of 10(-9) and 10(-7) M. IGF-I also prevented ACTH-induced suppression of [3H] thymidine uptake. IGF-I in no way affected aldosterone secretion during short-term exposure to cultured cells, however. Our findings suggest that IGF-I plays an important role in the proliferation of adrenal zona glomerulosa cells.     

Role of adrenal renin-angiotensin system in the control of aldosterone secretion in sodium-restricted rats

This study examined the effect of the pharmacological manipulation of adrenal renin-angiotensin system (RAS) on aldosterone secretion from in situ perfused adrenals of rats kept on a normal diet and sodium restricted for 14 days. Neither the angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor captopril nor the nonselective angiotensin II receptor antagonist saralasin and the AT(1) receptor-selective antagonist losartan affected basal aldosterone output in normally fed rats. In contrast, they concentration dependently decreased aldosterone secretion in sodium-restricted animals, with maximal effective concentration ranging from 10(-7) to 10(-6) M. Captopril (10(-6) M), saralasin (10(-6) M), and losartan (10(-7) M) counteracted aldosterone response to 10 mM K(+) in sodium-restricted rats but not in normally fed animals. Collectively, these findings provide evidence that adrenal RAS plays a role in the regulation of aldosterone secretion, but only under conditions of prolonged stimulation of zona glomerulosa probably leading to overexpression of adrenal RAS.     

Stimulation of endogenous nitric oxide production is involved in the inhibitory effect of adrenomedullin on aldosterone secretion in the rat

Adrenomedullin (AM) (10(-8) M) partially suppressed aldosterone response of dispersed rat zona glomerulosa (ZG) cells to 10 mM K+, and the nitric oxide (NO) synthase inhibitors L-NAME (10(-3) M) and 1400W (10(-4) M) effectively counteracted this effect of AM. The NO donor L-Arginine (L-Arg) (10(-5) M) decreased both basal and K+ -stimulated aldosterone secretion. The guanylate-cyclase inhibitor Ly-83583, at a concentration (10(-4) M) abolishing either the guanylate-cyclase activator guanylin- or L-Arg-induced cGMP release from dispersed ZG cells, did not affect the aldosterone antisecretagogue action of AM and L-Arg. AM (10(-8) M) evoked a moderate increase in cGMP release by dispersed ZG cells, and the effect was blocked by both 10(-4) M Ly-83583 and 10(-3) M L-NAME. Collectively, these findings allow us (1) to confirm that NO inhibits aldosterone secretion through a cGMP-independent mechanism; and (2) to suggest that stimulation of endogenous NO synthesis plays a role in the mechanisms underlying the inhibitory effect of AM on K+ -stimulated aldosterone secretion from rat ZG cells.     

18-Ethynyl-deoxycorticosterone inhibition of steroid production is different in freshly isolated compared to cultured calf zona glomerulosa cells

The inhibiting effects of 18-ethynyl-deoxycorticosterone (18-E-DOC) as a mechanism-based inhibitor on the late-steps of the aldosterone biosynthetic pathway were examined in calf adrenal zona glomerulosa cells in primary culture and in freshly isolated calf zona glomerulosa cells. 18-E-DOC inhibited the stimulated secretion of aldosterone and 18-hydroxycorticosterone in a similar dose-response and time fashion. No significant differences were found between the inhibition in cultured and freshly isolated cells (K_i of 0.25 vs 0.26 μM) Corticosterone secretion stimulated by ACTH or angiotensin II was also cultured in freshly isolated zona glomerulosa and fasciculata cells, but was not inhibited in cultured calf adrenal cells. Cortisol secretion stimulated by ACTH was not inhibited by 18-E-DOC in cultured zona fasciculata adrenal cells, but was inhibited in freshly isolated zona fasciculata cells with a K_i of 48 μM. The secretion of 18-hydroxyDOC or 19-hydroxyDOC stimulated by ACTH was not inhibited by 18-E-DOC. The bovine adrenal has been reported to have cytochrome P-450 11β-hydroxylases that can perform the various hydroxylations required for the synthesis of cortisol and aldosterone in the different areas of the adrenal. In other species a distinct 11β-hydroxylase which participates in the biosynthesis of aldosterone and is located in the zona glomerulosa has been described. These studies with the mechanism-based inhibitor, 18-E-DOC, suggest that the bovine adrenal functions in a manner very similar to that of other species and raises the possibility that a distinct 11β-hydroxylase with aldosterone synthase activity might be present, but has not been cloned as yet.     

Aldosterone production after short-term culture of rat adrenal capsule: responsiveness to angiotensin II, potassium and ACTH

In vitro studies of aldosterone production have traditionally used freshly isolated adrenal glomerulosa tissue. In the present study we examined the effects of short-term culture of rat adrenal capsule on its secretory capacity by measuring both basal and stimulated aldosterone production. Capsules were maintained in culture for 24 h, and then responses to administered angiotensin II (1 X 10(-7) M), potassium (an increase of 2mM) and ACTH (1 X 10(-8) M) were determined during perifusion. Results were compared with responses by freshly isolated adrenal capsule. Although short-term culture reduced basal aldosterone production, responsiveness to administered stimuli was intact and often was greater than that observed with fresh capsular tissue. The results indicate that short-term culture of zona glomerulosa provides a suitable in vitro preparation for examining aldosterone secretory responsiveness to stimuli.