The effect of hydrocortisone and calcium ion on the catecholamine release from the adrenal medullary slice (author's transl)

Abstract

A large dose of hydrocortisone has a protective effect in hemorrhagic and endotoxin shock. In recent years there has been considerable discussion suggesting that the release of catecholamines may be the first step in the chain of events in shock. On the other hand, a large dose of hydrocortisone may inhibit the release of catecholamines, and this effect of hydrocortisone may be attributed to the inhibition of a calcium ion influx across the cell membrane. The present experiments were performed in order to determine whether acetylcholine-and histamine-induced catecholamine release is effected by hydrocortisone and calcium ion in bovine adrenal medullary slices or not. The results were as follows: 1. Acetylcholine or histamine increased catecholamine release from the adrenal medullary slices. 2. The stimulatory effect of acetylcholine or histamine was inhibited by the addition of hydrocortisone. 3. The inhibitory effect of hydrocortisone was proportionally reversed by the increasing amount of added calcium ion in the media. From the above results, it is suggested that hydrocortisone inhibits catecholamine release from the adrenal medullary slices and that the effect of hydrocortisone is due to a blocking of the transfer of calcium ion into the cells.