Aldosterone and corticosterone stimulation by ACTH in isolated rat adrenal glomerulosa cells: interaction with vasopressin.

An interaction between ACTH and vasopressin on steroidogenesis was observed in isolated rat adrenal zona glomerulosa cell preparations. 1. The presence of 10(-11) M vasopressin further increased by 52% the output of aldosterone produced by 10(-12) M ACTH on those cells. 2. At a pharmacological concentration of ACTH (10(-7) M), the aldosterone output was increased 5 fold while the addition of 10(-12) M or 10(-8) M vasopressin decreased it by 17% and 48% respectively. 3. Vasopressin also produced a dose-dependent inhibition of the stimulatory effect of ACTH on the output of corticosterone. 4. We have thus shown for the first time, that vasopressin acts directly on adrenal zona glomerulosa cell preparations to modify the aldosterone output by modulating the action of ACTH. It is postulated that, in addition to other known aldosterone regulating factors, ACTH and vasopressin might synergistically act to regulate the secretion of aldosterone in vivo.