Abstract
Potassium has long been recognized as a significant modulator of aldosterone synthesis and secretion. Its role as a regulator of glucocorticoids is less clear. Using a perifusion of dispersed mouse adrenal cells, we found a dose-related effect of extracellular potassium (K+) on secretion of the major rodent glucocorticoid, corticosterone. The maximal elicitable response was 33% of the maximal response to ACTH. An increase in K+ concentration enhanced the effect of ACTH, while K+-free medium depressed the response to ACTH. The temporal characteristics of the corticosterone response to K+ were similar to that of ACTH and consistent with a primary effect on biosynthesis rather than on discharge of a preformed pool of hormone. The results indicate that a significant ion-mediated mechanism modulates ACTH-stimulated glucocorticoid secretion and suggest that further studies of endogenous substances operative by ionic mechanisms might be warranted.
Original language | English (US) |
---|---|
Pages (from-to) | 703-709 |
Number of pages | 7 |
Journal | Metabolism |
Volume | 33 |
Issue number | 8 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Aug 1984 |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism
- Endocrinology