Harold Brown

Chronic Laxative-Induced Hyperaldosteronism and Hypokalemia Simulating Bartter's Syndrome

Abstract A 47-year-old woman had a history of hypokalemia and laxative abuse throughout her adult life. She had markedly elevated renin and aldosterone secretion and juxtaglomerular hyperplasia on ...

ACTH Stimulation and Glucocorticoid Inhibition of Renin Release in the Rat

Summary In the rat, ACTH effected a transient rise in the level of plasma renin. Pretreatment with glucocorticoids completely inhibited the ACTH-induced renin rise. After adrenalectomy or inhibition of steroidogenesis by aminoglutethimide. ACTH produced a sustained rise in plasma renin level. Thus in the rat, ACTH has a direct effect on the juxtaglomerular apparatus causing a rise in plasma renin activity and glucocorticoids have an opposing action.

Postalcoholic Hypoglycemia Versus Islet Cell Tumor

Summary A woman with chronic alcoholism and recurrent episodes of hypoglycemia developed profound hypoglycemia after prolonged fasting and the intravenous tolbutamide test. No islet cell tumor was found at exploration. Patients with alcoholism and hypoglycemia may have the usual findings suggestive of a functioning islet cell tumor, namely, sustained hypoglycemia after tolbutamide administration and after prolonged fasting.

Bleeding and plasma renin activity in the rat: the role of ACTH, glucocorticoids and the sympathetic nervous system.

Summary The rise in PRA levels caused by bleeding was diminished by hypophysec–tomy and by the administration of dexameth–asone and pentolinium. Although ACTH and the sympathetic system participate in the release of renin induced by bleeding, it is likely that the rise in PRA is also dependent on changes in renal blood flow. It is suggested that dexamethasone inhibits the release of renin induced by bleeding by a direct effect on the receptor sites within the juxtaglomerular cells. Aminoglutethimide (Elipten) was kindly supplied by Dr. J. J. Chart, Director of Endocrinology, Ciba Pharmaceutical Company, Summit, NJ. We thank Dr. Norman S. Fleischers laboratory for providing the plasma renin assays.