In vitro responses of focal hyperplastic tissue of the human adrenal zona fasciculata to ACTH.

The temporal cAMP, cortisol and aldosterone responses to ACTH of focal hyperplasia of the zona fasciculata and of normal human adrenocortical tissue were investigated. ACTH significantly increased cAMP levels (1 min) and cortisol output (2 min) in normal adrenal tissue but not in hyperplastic tissue. However, following ACTH treatment cortisol and aldosterone production were depressed in the abnormal adrenal tissue below the untreated or the ACTH stimulated normal adrenal tissue. In addition, basal cortisol and aldosterone production of the hyperplastic adrenal tissue was elevated above that of the normal adrenal tissue. These findings suggest that the cAMP second messenger concept may be only one of several mechanisms in the modulation of human adrenocortical function.