title: Mechanism of action of spironolactone on cortisol production by guinea pig adrenocortical cells.
abstract: Studies were done to determine the mechanism(s) of action of spironolactone (SL) and of its deacetylated metabolite, 7 alpha-thio-SL, to inhibit cortisol secretion by guinea pig adrenocortical cells in vitro. Preincubation of cells at 37 degrees C with SL or with 7 alpha-thio-SL caused a time-dependent decline in subsequent ACTH-stimulated cortisol secretion. In the absence of a preincubation, neither compound affected cortisol production, indicating the need for production of an active metabolite. When the 17 alpha-hydroxylase inhibitor, SU-10'603, was included during the preincubation period, neither SL nor 7 alpha-thio-SL decreased cortisol secretion, indicating the involvement of the 17 alpha-hydroxylase in the activation of both compounds. By contrast, neither the 11 beta-hydroxylase inhibitor, metyrapone, nor the cholesterol sidechain cleavage inhibitor, aminoglutethimide, diminished the effects of SL or of 7 alpha-thio-SL on cortisol secretion. Preincubation of cells with SL or 7 alpha-thio-SL also decreased the conversion of exogenous progesterone to cortisol, but did not affect cortisol production from the 17 alpha-hydroxylated substrates, 17 alpha-hydroxyprogesterone and 11-deoxycortisol, suggesting that only 17 alpha-hydroxylation was impaired. In addition, there was a decline in 17 alpha-hydroxylase activity in microsomes isolated from cells preincubated with SL or with 7 alpha-thio-SL, but no change in microsomal 21-hydroxylase or in mitochondrial 11 beta-hydroxylase and cholesterol sidechain cleavage activities. The results indicate that the direct effects of SL and of 7 alpha-thio-SL on the adrenal cortex to decrease cortisol production result from the selective inhibition of 17 alpha-hydroxylation. Since 17 alpha-hydroxylase activity is apparently required for the activation of both compounds, suicide inhibition of the enzyme may be the mechanism of action.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Philadelphia College of Pharmacy and Science, PA 19104.
authors.forename: K A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Rourke
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Bergstrom
authors.forename: I W
authors.initials: IW
authors.lastname: Larson
authors.forename: H D
authors.initials: HD
authors.lastname: Colby
mesh_terms: D000311:Adrenal Glands / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D003350:Cortodoxone / Q000378:metabolism; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D006908:Hydroxyprogesterones / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D006899:Mixed Function Oxygenases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D010105:Oxygenases / Q000378:metabolism; D011374:Progesterone / Q000378:metabolism; D013148:Spironolactone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013764:Tetrahydronaphthalenes / Q000494:pharmacology; D015383:Zona Fasciculata / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D015384:Zona Glomerulosa / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D006908:Hydroxyprogesterones; D013764:Tetrahydronaphthalenes; D013148:Spironolactone; C033554:7 alpha-thiospironolactone; D011374:Progesterone; C001953:SU 10603; D006899:Mixed Function Oxygenases; D010105:Oxygenases; D003350:Cortodoxone; D006854:Hydrocortisone