Thapsigargin-induced increase in cytoplasmic Ca2+ concentration and aldosterone production in rat adrenal glomerulosa cells: interaction with potassium and angiotensin-II.

Thapsigargin (Tg), a microsomal Ca2+ pump inhibitor, dose-dependently increases the cytoplasmic Ca2+ concentration and aldosterone production without having any striking effect on the formation of inositol phosphates in isolated rat adrenal glomerulosa cells. The interaction of Tg with the major Ca2(+)-mediated stimuli of glomerulosa cells on aldosterone production was also examined. The effects of Tg and the Ca2(+)-mobilizing angiotensin-II (AII) were additive. The aldosterone production stimulatory effect of potassium, which induces Ca2+ influx via voltage-operated Ca2+ channels, was potentiated by Tg. The positive interaction between Tg and potassium on aldosterone production raises the possibility that stimuli generating Ca2+ signal by depleting intracellular Ca2+ stores, such as Tg or AII, enhance the response of the cell to depolarization. Such an interaction between AII and potassium may have an important role in the physiological control of aldosterone production.