Effects of sodium deficiency, potassium deficiency and uremia upon the steroidogenic response of rat adrenal tissue to serotonin, potassium ions and adrenocorticotropin.

Abstract

Quartered adrenal glands of rats kept on a sodium-deficient diet or uremic after bilateral nephrectomy were found to produce more aldosterone and less deoxycorticosterone in vitro than adrenal tissue of normal rats. On the other hand, dietary potassium deficiency led to a decreased aldosterone production and an increased deoxycorticosterone production. These differences in corticosteroid production became especially marked when the adrenals were stimulated in vitro by serotonin, adrenocorticotropin (ACTH) or a high potassium concentration in the incubation medium. In adrenals of sodium-deficient or uremic rats aldosterone production was stimulated to the same extent by the addition of progesterone, deoxycorticosterone or corticosterone, whereas in normal adrenal tissue aldosterone production was highest when corticosterone was added to the incubation medium. Only added corticosterone significantly stimulated aldosterone production in adrenals of potassium-deficient rats. These results indicate that the st...