title: Effect of angiotensin II on secretion of adrenal androgens.
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 delta 4-androstenedione (delta 4-A) were measured in eight normal men 60 and 120 min after stimulation of endogenous A II by a bolus injection of 40 mg 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 delta 4-A. In the culture of human adrenocortical cells, 10(-9)-10(-5) M A II or 10(-13) M ACTH alone did not stimulate the secretion of DHEA, DS and delta 4-A, while 10(-7) and 10(-5) M A II in the presence of 10(-13) M ACTH caused a significant increase in DHEA and DS secretion with no change in delta 4-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.
mesh_terms: D000302:Adrenal Cortex / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D000311:Adrenal Glands / Q000378:metabolism*; D000328:Adult; D000728:Androgens / Q000378:metabolism*; D000804:Angiotensin II / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000097:blood; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005665:Furosemide; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male
chemical_list: D000728:Androgens; D000804:Angiotensin II; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate; D005665:Furosemide