Tatsuyuki Yamaguchi

Inhibition of Aldosterone Production by Adrenomedullin, a Hypotensive Peptide, in the Rat

Recently, we conducted in vitro studies and reported that adrenomedullin, a novel hypotensive peptide, inhibits aldosterone secretion by dispersed rat adrenal zona glomerulosa cells. To assess the physiological role of this inhibitory effect, we investigated the effect of adrenomedullin on aldosterone production in vivo. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were fed a normal sodium diet before the experiments. To begin the experimental procedure, we stimulated aldosterone production with a sodium-deficient diet or bilateral nephrectomy. After 3 days of sodium depletion or immediately after nephrectomy, we injected synthetic human adrenomedullin (2.5 nmol/kg SC) and repeated the injection three times at 6-hour intervals. Two hours after the last injection, the rats were decapitated and adrenal capsular tissue was collected. Adrenomedullin had no effect on plasma and adrenal aldosterone concentrations in the rats fed a normal sodium diet. Rats fed a sodium-deficient diet had significantly increased aldosterone concentrations in both plasma (4770.1 +/- 364.3 pmol/L) and adrenal gland (57.34 +/- 3.27 pmol per adrenal). Subsequently, injection of adrenomedullin significantly inhibited increases in concentrations (plasma, 2648.9 +/- 313.2 pmol/L; adrenal, 44.28 +/- 4.94 pmol per adrenal). In nephrectomized rats, increased aldosterone concentrations in plasma and adrenal gland were also significantly inhibited by adrenomedullin. In the second part of the study, plasma renin concentration, adrenal renin activity, plasma corticosterone concentration, serum potassium concentration, and plasma immunoreactive adrenomedullin concentration were examined for adrenomedullin effects. The first four were unaffected, and the last, plasma immunoreactive adrenomedullin, was elevated 15% to 30%. These in vivo results, together with our in vitro data, suggest that adrenomedullin may indeed play a physiological role in the control of blood pressure and electrolyte balance.

Role of the adrenal renin-angiotensin system on adrenocorticotropic hormone- and potassium-stimulated aldosterone production by rat adrenal glomerulosa cells in monolayer culture.

The rat zona glomerulosa has a renin-angiotensin system that appears to function as an autocrine or paracrine system in the regulation of aldosterone production. To further investigate dynamic changes of production of renin and aldosterone in vitro we developed a primary monolayer culture of rat adrenal glomerulosa cells in serum-free medium. Collagenase- dispersed glomerulosa cells were incubated in PFMR-4 medium containing 10% fetal calf serum for 48 hours; the medium was then replaced with serum-free PFMR-4 medium. The cell viability and the aldosterone secretion were stable over the additional 48 hours in the serum-free control medium. After incubation for 24 hours in the serum-free medium, the cells were exposed to high K+ or adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) for another 24 hours. ACTH stimulated aldosterone secretion, and this increased secretion was associated with an increase in renin activity (cell active renin, from 15.56±0.71 to 45.75±5.69; cell inactive renin, from 0.67±0.54 to 8.75±3.40; medium inactive renin, from 5.58±1.16 to 106.20±14.01 pg angiotensin I (Ang I)/μg protein/3 hr). Aldosterone was also stimulated by high K+. This increase was also associated with an increase in active renin in the cells (from 15.08±1.80 to 23.26±2.15 pg Ang I/μg protein/3 hr) and an increase in inactive renin in the medium (from 10.87±1.62 to 21.37±3.20 pg Ang I/μg protein/3 hr). Addition of the angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor lisinopril attenuated both ACTH- and high K+-stimulated aldosterone secretion significantly. These data indicate that a local renin system may play a role in the regulation of aldosterone production.

Regulation of renin gene expression in rat adrenal zona glomerulosa cells.

Our previous studies indicated that the amount of renin present in cultured adrenal zona glomerulosa cells increased after stimulation with adrenocorticotropic hormone or potassium. In the present study, we investigated the effects of adrenocorticotropic hormone or potassium on renin gene expression in cultured rat adrenal zona glomerulosa cells. The amount of rat renin messenger RNA (mRNA) was measured by complementary DNA synthesis and the competitive polymerase chain reaction method. The effects of adrenocorticotropic hormone or potassium on adrenal zona glomerulosa cell renin activity and renin mRNA content were compared with the activity and content of control cells. After 1 and 4 hours of stimulation by adrenocorticotropic hormone or potassium, total renin in the medium increased slightly; at the same time, the percent change in the amount of renin mRNA was 281% and 291%, respectively, in the adrenocorticotropic hormone-stimulated group and 218% and 348%, respectively, in the potassium-stimulated group. Twenty-four hours after adrenocorticotropic hormone or potassium stimulation, total renin in the medium increased significantly, by 689% and 220%, respectively; percent change in the renin mRNA content was 754% and 278%, respectively. These results demonstrate that adrenocorticotropic hormone and potassium increased the activity of adrenal renin through an increase in the level of renin mRNA.

Effect of angiotensin II on renin production by rat adrenal glomerulosa cells in culture.

Angiotensin II (Ang II) inhibits renin secretion and production from the kidney, but the effect of Ang II on adrenal renin is not clear. Nephrectomy, via elevated plasma adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and potassium, is a strong stimulator of adrenal renin production in the rat. This stimulation is inhibited by the infusion of Ang II, suggesting a negative feedback between Ang II and adrenal renin. In the present study, we examined the effect of Ang II on adrenal renin using a primary culture of rat glomerulosa cells. Cells were exposed to ACTH (10(-11) M), high potassium (8 and 12 mM), db-cyclic AMP (db-cAMP), (10(-3) M), or Ang II (10(-11) to 10(-5) M) for 24 hours, and active renin and inactive renin were measured. Active renin was predominant in the cells, whereas inactive renin predominated in the medium. Ang II stimulated renin production in a dose-dependent fashion (cell-active renin, 1.21 +/- 0.20 to 2.39 +/- 0.16; medium-inactive renin, 2.59 +/- 0.40 to 6.14 +/- 0.49 ng Ang I/10(6) cells). Both ACTH and db-cAMP significantly stimulated active renin in the cells (ACTH, 1.73 +/- 0.14 to 9.44 +/- 0.98; db-cAMP, 1.45 +/- 0.16 to 3.96 +/- 0.71 ng Ang I/10(6) cells) and inactive renin in the medium (ACTH, 4.98 +/- 0.38 to 43.7 +/- 5.63; db-cAMP, 3.80 +/- 0.32 to 33.55 +/- 5.62 ng Ang I/10(6) cells). The addition of Ang II (10(-7) M) blunted the stimulation of renin production by both ACTH and db-cAMP by 60%. High potassium-stimulated renin production was not inhibited by Ang II.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)