Neurotensin inhibits the stimulatory effect of angiotensin-II and potassium on aldosterone secretion by rat zona glomerulosa cells.

Neurotensin (NT), a hypothalamic peptide which is also contained in the chromaffin granules of adrenal medullary cells, did not affect either basal or ACTH-stimulated secretory activity of isolated rat zona glomerulosa (ZG) cells. Conversely, NT was found to exert a strong dose-dependent inhibitory effect on aldosterone response of ZG cells to their two main calcium-dependent secretagogues angiotensin-II and potassium. These findings suggest that NT may interfere with the angiotensin-II- or potassium-induced activation of protein kinase C, possibly by blunting the rise in the cytosolic calcium concentration.