Secretion of aldosterone in response to histamine in hypophysectomized-nephrectomized dogs.

In hypophysectomized-nephrectomized dogs after intravenous injection of histamine, a marked increase was observed in the rate of secretion of aldosterone, although it was smaller than that in intact dogs. Hypophysectomy plus bilateral nephrectomy greatly impaired the secretion of corticosterone and cortisol in the dog in response to histamine. However, a small yet significant increase in corticosterone and cortisol secretion was observed in hypophysectomized-nephrectomized dogs after intravenous injection of histamine. Additional experiments showed that plasma concentrations of potassium and sodium in hypophysectomized-nephrectomized dogs remained unchanged after intravenous injection of histamine. These results suggest that histamine stimulates aldosterone secretion in the dog partly by a direct effect on the adrenal cortical cells, whereas the effect of histamine on corticosterone and cortisol secretion is mediated mainly, but not totally, by pituitary release of ACTH.