THE PRODUCTION OF CORTICOIDS IN NORMAL AND PATHOLOGIC HUMAN ADRENAL SLICES AND INFLUENCES OF ACTH AND ANGIOTENSIN II ON CORTICOID-PRODUCTION

Abstract

The in vitro production of corticoids from human adrenals was studied in normal and pathological states such as Cushing's syndrome or primary aldosteronism.
1. Hyperplastic adrenals of Cushing's syndrome produced a large amount of cortisone, cortisol and corticosterone. In the adrenal adenoma of primary aldosteronism, the production of aldosterone and corticosterone was stimulated. Hyperplastic tissues of the adrenal, combined with adenoma, also produced relatively large amounts of aldosterone. Another case of primary aldosteronism without adenoma produced not only aldosterone but also cortisone, cortisol and corticosterone in large amounts.
2. When ACTH was added to the incubation medium, the production of every kind of corticoids determined increased in normal adrenals, while aldosterone production did not increase so much in hyperplastic adrenals of Cushing's syndrome as compared with other corticoids production.
3. The production of aldosterone and corticosterone was stimulated by addition of synthetic angiotensin II to the incubation medium in normal adrenals, but only aldosterone production was promoted by angiotensin II in the adrenal of primary aldosteronism.