Inhibition of angiotensin II- and potassium-mediated aldosterone secretion by KN-62 suggests involvement of Ca(2+)-calmodulin dependent protein kinase II in aldosterone secretion.

Calcium is now acknowledged to play a major role as a cellular mediator of aldosterone secretion. However, the intricacies of the involvement of calcium in aldosterone secretion have not been clearly defined. We have shown here that calmodulin-dependent kinase II is involved in angiotensin II- and potassium-evoked aldosterone secretion as judged by the marked inhibitory effect of KN-62, a specific inhibitor of such a kinase, on aldosterone secretion and this inhibition was similar to that produced by calmodulin inhibitor, W-7. These results further strengthen the case for the participatory role of calcium-calmodulin system in aldosterone secretion.