title: Inhibitory effects of cortical steroids and adrenocorticotropic hormone on catecholamine secretion in guinea-pig perfused adrenal glands.
abstract: 1 We investigated the effects of exogenously applied steroids and endogenously released cortisol on catecholamine (CA) secretion induced by cholinergic agonists in perfused guinea-pig adrenal glands. 2 Acetylcholine (ACh) and electrical stimulation induced CA secretion, which was reversibly inhibited by cortisol. Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) increased the concentration of cortisol in the perfusion effluent and partly inhibited the secretory response to ACh. 3 Cortisol or aldosterone dose-dependently inhibited secretory responses to nicotine and muscarine. These inhibitory effects were not antagonized by mifepristone and spironolactone, respective cortisol and aldosterone receptor blockers. 4 Dexamethasone, cortisone, corticosterone, 11-deoxycortisol, 11-deoxycorticosterone, prednisolone and cholesterol inhibited nicotine-evoked CA secretion. The secretory response to muscarine was inhibited by these compounds except for dexamethasone and prednisolone. 5 Dexamethasone, cortisol and aldosterone had no effect on CA secretion induced by high KCl. 6 These results suggest that steroids affect nicotinic and muscarinic ACh receptor-mediated responses through distinct mechanisms, and that cortisol released from the adrenal cortex inhibits CA secretion from the adrenal medulla.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Pharmacology, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Graduate School of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo 060-0818, Japan.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yonekubo
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ohta
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nakazato
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ito
mesh_terms: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000311:Adrenal Glands / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism*; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000450:Aldosterone / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D002395:Catecholamines / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000378:metabolism; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D002395:Catecholamines; D000450:Aldosterone; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D006854:Hydrocortisone