Effects of stimulation on steroid output and perfusion medium flow rate in the isolated perfused rat adrenal gland in situ

Abstract

Using the in-situ, isolated, perfused rat adrenal system, the actions of adrenal stimulants on steroidogenesis and perfusion medium flow rates (under constant perfusion pump conditions) have been studied. In a series of 100 experiments, initial rates of corticosterone output and flow rates were found to be positively correlated, although there was no such relationship between initial rates of aldosterone output and flow rates. Furthermore, in stable perfusion conditions, bolus injections of ACTH increased both flow rate and steroid output in a dose-related manner. In individual experiments there was a clear correlation between corticosterone and flow, but the association between aldosterone secretion rate and flow was less evident. It is possible that this discrepancy arises because of temporal differences in the responses of these two steroids. Flow was also stimulated by dibutyryl cyclic AMP (dbcAMP), with correlations with steroid output similar to ACTH, but the specific zona glomerulosa stimulants angiotensin II amide and potassium ions had, if anything, inhibitory effects on flow, but only at high concentrations. The data suggest that ACTH and dbcAMP evoke specific responses in the adrenal vasculature, resulting in relatively decreased intraglandular vascular resistance. They furthermore suggest that the secretory functions of the inner adrenocortical zones are subject to the additional control of vascular elements in the intact gland.