Effect of ethanol on corticosterone production by dispersed adrenal cells of the rat.

The action of ethanol on adrenal steroidogenesis "in vitro" has been studied. It has been found that ethanol did not change the basal production of corticosterone by dispersed adrenal cells, but significantly reduced its response to ACTH stimulation. It is suggested that the inhibitory action of ethanol on steroidogenesis "in vitro" could have a physiological meaning, because the response to ACTH stimulation of adrenal cells from rats treated "in vivo" with ethanol showed a clear dose-related inhibition.