Mechanism of action of aldosterone release by prostaglandin E in isolated rat adrenal glomerulosa cells.

The effect of prostaglandin E (PGE) on aldosterone release and the mechanism of action of PGE in mediating the release of aldosterone were studied using isolated rat glomerulosa cells. PGE1 stimulated aldosterone release in a dose-dependent fashion at concentrations between 10(-8) and 10(-6) M and caused approximately a two-fold increase over the basal aldosterone level at 10(-6) M. A significant and dose-dependent increase in cAMP production was also produced by PGE1 at concentrations greater than 10(-8) M. Aldosterone release induced by 10(-7) M or 10(-6) M PGE2 was significantly reduced by a competitive receptor blocking PG-antagonist, SC 19220 (10(-7) M), but not affected by (Sar1, Ileu8)-angiotensin-II (A-II), a competitive inhibitor of A-II. PGE-stimulated aldosterone release was almost completely abolished by depleting the extracellular Ca2+ by EGTA, or by verapamil, a Ca2+-channel blocker or W-7, a calmodulin inhibitor. These findings suggest that PGE stimulates aldosterone release through the membrane receptor binding and activation of adenylate cyclase and that Ca2+-calmodulin system plays an essential role in mediating the steroidogenic action of PGE in the adrenal glomerulosa cells. However, the physiological significance of PGE in the regulation of aldosterone secretion remains to be elucidated.