Production of aldosterone in male rats with inherited diabetes insipidus (Brattleboro strain).

Plasma concentration, metabolic clearance rate and in vitro adrenal production of aldosterone were measured in Brattleboro male rats with inherited diabetes insipidus (DI) and in Long-Evans male rats (LE) as controls. Plasma concentration of aldosterone was significantly lower (-48.3%) in DI rats than in LE rats. Metabolic clearance rate of aldosterone was not statistically different between Brattleboro and Long-Evans rats, suggesting that the in vivo production rate of aldosterone was reduced by half in DI rats. Conversely, the basal in vitro production of aldosterone by adrenal tissue was similar in the two groups of rats. The reason for impairment of the in vivo production of aldosterone by Brattleboro rats congenitally lacking vasopressin is discussed. It is suggested that despite possibly indirect influence on the factors involved in the control of aldosterone secretion, mainly ACTH and potassium, vasopressin effects might occur in situ on the adrenal glomerulosa cells.