title: Role of cAMP in the effects of K+ on the steroidogenesis of zona glomerulosa cells.
abstract: 1. Investigations of the role of cAMP in the stimulation of the steroidogenesis of zona glomerulosa (ZG) cells by increased extracellular K+ concentration are reviewed. 2. Possible reasons for discrepancies in the results of different investigators on whether K+ increases the cAMP content or output of ZG tissue or dispersed cells are discussed. 3. The concentration of cAMP in the incubating media of ZG tissue or cells, rather than their cAMP content, seems to respond more sensitively to stimulation by extracellular K+, as was also found for adrenocorticotropic hormone stimulation of zona fasciculata-reticularis cells. 4. The addition of the phosphodiesterase inhibitor 1-methyl-3-isobutylxanthine (IBMX) to incubations with the aim of increasing the sensitivity of the response in cAMP to extracellular K+ in ZG cells may give rise to effects, probably nonspecific, which actually inhibit the measured response. 5. The immediate stimulation in the steroidogenesis of ZG cells with raised extracellular K+ is probably mostly due to the direct effect of increases in cytoplasmic Ca2+ (arising from increases in Ca2+ influx) on mitochondrial processes. However, increases in cAMP may prolong the stimulation of steroidogenesis by increased extracellular K+. This increased cAMP is probably due to stimulation of adenylyl cyclase activity. 6. It has been concluded that the increase in Ca2+ influx output after rises in the extracellular K+ concentration of ZG cells is responsible for most of the increase in cAMP. 7. According to one group of investigators, there is weak stimulation of phospholipase C (PLC) activity after increasing the extracellular K+ concentration of rat ZG cells. 8. If there is such a stimulation of PLC activity, it seems that the action of increased extracellular K+ can potentially involve all known mechanisms for the stimulation of steroidogenesis in endocrine cells. The common primary event is probably the increase in Ca2+ influx. The relative importance of these various potential mechanisms may depend on the particular in vitro conditions used.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Endocrinology, University College London, UK. jftait@globalnet.co.uk
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Tait
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Tait
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D000242:Cyclic AMP / Q000502:physiology*; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D011188:Potassium / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats; D013256:Steroids / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D015384:Zona Glomerulosa / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D013256:Steroids; D000242:Cyclic AMP; D011188:Potassium