Ouabain, a new steroid hormone of adrenal gland and hypothalamus.
Ouabain has been isolated and identified as a constituent of human blood, bovine adrenal glands and hypothalamus. This water soluble inhibitor of the sodium pump (Na+/K+-ATPase) circulates in elevated concentrations in blood plasma of 50% of Caucasians with elevated blood pressure. It is released from adrenal cortical cells in tissue culture by angiotensin II. A ouabain antagonist, PST2238, lowers blood pressure in hypertensive rats. Hence, ouabain is most probably a new steroid hormone formed in adrenal glands and hypothalamus. Consistent therewith is the demonstration of a specific binding globulin for cardiac glycosides in blood plasma.
Schoner
W
W
Institut für Biochemie und Endokrinologie, Justus-Liebig-Universität Giessen. wilhelm.schoner@vetmed.uni-giessen.de
D000302:Adrenal Cortex / Q000502:physiology; D000311:Adrenal Glands / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D002417:Cattle; D006728:Hormones / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000097:blood; D007031:Hypothalamus / Q000502:physiology*; D010042:Ouabain / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D044465:White People
D006728:Hormones; D010042:Ouabain