Neurotensin stimulates the growth and secretion of rat adrenal zona glomerulosa.

Within 2 days neurotensin (NT) and ACTH administrations markedly enhanced the average volume of zona glomerulosa (ZG) cells and plasma aldosterone concentration (PAC) in intact rats. In dexamethasone-treated rats, both NT and ACTH evoked a clearcut ZG-cell hypertrophy, but only NT was able to raise PAC. In conclusion, our findings indicate that NT is a potent stimulator of the growth and secretion of rat ZG in vivo, and suggest that the mechanism underlying this action of NT does not involve the well-known NT-induced stimulation of ACTH release.