title: In vitro evidence for local generation of renin and angiotensin II/III immunoreactivity by the human adrenal gland.
abstract: The adrenal gland of various mammalian species has been shown to contain all the components of a functional renin-angiotensin system. We investigated the existence of this local system in human adrenal tissues surgically obtained. Eight normal adrenals (cortex and medulla) and 6 aldosterone-producing adenomas (aldosteronomas) were examined. Minced tissues were superfused over 270 min, and 15-min fractions were collected. In the perfusates, active renin was measured by immunoradiometric assay with human anti-renin monoclonal antibodies; immunoreactive angiotensin II/III and aldosterone were measured by radioimmunoassay. Adrenal tissues, either normal or pathological, were found concomitantly to release renin, angiotensin II/III and aldosterone. The pattern of this spontaneous release exhibited a pulsatile character. The total amount of renin and angiotensin II/III secreted during superfusion clearly exceeded the tissue content (determined by extraction). Addition of the angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor quinaprilat (4 x 10(-6) mol/l) in the superfusion caused a concomitant decrease of angiotensin II/III and aldosterone secretion by 3 normal tissues, and no change in 2 aldosteronomas. These data provide evidence that the human adrenal gland in vitro generates and releases both renin and angiotensin II/III, and support the hypothesis that locally formed angiotensin II/III may play a role as a paracrine regulator of physiological aldosterone secretion.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Semeiotica Medica, University of Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Fallo
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pistorello
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pedini
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: D'Agostino
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mantero
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Boscaro
mesh_terms: D000236:Adenoma / Q000378:metabolism; D000310:Adrenal Gland Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism; D000311:Adrenal Glands / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D000368:Aged; D000450:Aldosterone / Q000378:metabolism; D000804:Angiotensin II / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D000805:Angiotensin III / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015592:Immunoradiometric Assay; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007546:Isoquinolines / Q000494:pharmacology; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D012083:Renin / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D044005:Tetrahydroisoquinolines; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D007546:Isoquinolines; D044005:Tetrahydroisoquinolines; D000804:Angiotensin II; D000805:Angiotensin III; C054501:quinaprilat; D000450:Aldosterone; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase; D012083:Renin