Abstract
To assess the effect of angiotensin II (A II) on the secretion of human adrenal androgens (AA), plasma dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), DHEA sulfate (DS) and Δ4-androstenedione (Δ4-A) were measured in eight normal men 60 and 120min after stimulationn of endogenous A II by a bolus injection of 40mg frusemide, and the direct effect of A II on the secretion of adrenal androgens was examined in cultured human adrenocortical cells in the presence of a low concentration of ACTH.
The administration of frusemide led to a significant increase in the plasma DHEA and DS concentration as well as plasma renin activity (PRA) and aldosterone concentration (PAC), but did not change plasma cortisol and Δ4-A. In the culture of human adrenocortical cells, 10-9-10-5M A II or 10-13M ACTH alone did not stimulate the secretion of DHEA, DS and Δ4-A, while 10-7 and 10-5M A II in the presence of 10-13M ACTH caused a significant increase in DHEA and DS secretion with no change in Δ4-A. These results suggest that the activated renin-angiotensin system stimulates the secretion of adrenal androgens by a direct effect of A II on adrenal cortical cells.
