Involvement of the cytoskeleton in the mechanism of action of endothelin on frog adrenocortical cells

Abstract

In a previous report, we have shown that endothelin-1 (ET-1) is a potent stimulator of corticosterone and aldosterone secretion by frog adrenocortical cells. In the present study, we examine the possible involvement of cytoskeletal elements in the mechanism of action of ET-1 on corticosteroid secretion from frog adrenal gland. The microfilament disrupting agent cytochalasin B (5 × 10 −5 M) induced a reversible inhibition of the spontaneous secretion of corticosteroid and blocked the response of adrenocortical cells to ET-1 (5 × 10 −9 M). In contrast, the antimicrotubular agent vinblastine (10 −5 M) and the intermediate filament inhibitor β-β′ iminodipropionitrile (10 −3 M) had virtually no effect on both spontaneous and endothelin-induced steroidogenesis. Taken together, these results indicate that, in the frog adrenal gland, the integrity of the microfilament network is required for the corticotropic activity of ET-1 whereas microtubules and intermediate filaments are apparently not involved in the mechanism of action of ET-1.