Column perifusion system for steroidogenesis in isolated rat adrenal cells.

A perifusion system using a plastic column into which isolated rat adrenal cells had been installed was attempted. After ACTH or cAMP was administered to the column, the corticosterone concentration in the eluate was determined. ACTH in 10(-13) and 10(-12) M did not promote corticosterone production, whereas 10(-11) and 10(-10) M showed a dose dependent production of corticosterone. By iterative infusion of 10(-11) or 10(-9) M of ACTH, very clear responses to restimulation of ACTH were noted. Following the administrations of 10(-3) or 10(-2) M of dibutyryl adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (dbcAMP), the production of corticosterone increased dose-dependently. These results suggest that this perifusion system is effective for examining the effects of ACTH or cAMP on steroidogenesis of cells.