title: Teaching aldosterone regulation and basic scientific principles using a classic paper by Dr. James O. Davis and colleagues.
abstract: Classroom discussion of scientific articles can be an effective means of teaching scientific principles and methodology to both undergraduate and graduate science students. The availability of classic papers from the American Physiological Society Legacy Project has made it possible to access articles dating back to the early portions of the 20th century. In this article, we discuss a classic paper from the laboratory of Dr. James O. Davis on the regulation of aldosterone synthesis from the adrenal zona glomerulosa cell. Dr. Davis has conducted much of the seminal research investigating the renin-angiotensin system and the regulation of aldosterone release by angiotensin II. In addition to a characterization of the effects of ACTH on aldosterone regulation, this study is useful for discussing the basic principles of negative feedback pathways of the hypothalamic-pituitary axis. This study also provides examples of early bioassay techniques for the detection of angiotensin II and of the importance of quantitative measurements when investigating physiological responses. Three figures and one table are reproduced from the original article along with a series of discussion questions designed to facilitate discovery learning.
authors.affiliation: Human Biology Dept., Univ. of Wisconsin, 2420 Nicolet Dr., Green Bay, WI 54311, USA. hankec@uwgb.edu
authors.forename: Craig J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Hanke
authors.forename: Angela C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Bauer-Dantoin
mesh_terms: D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000502:physiology; D000450:Aldosterone / Q000266:history / Q000378:metabolism*; D000804:Angiotensin II / Q000032:analysis; D001681:Biological Assay / Q000379:methods; D001690:Biological Science Disciplines / Q000193:education* / Q000266:history; D004504:Education, Medical, Undergraduate; D025461:Feedback, Physiological; D049673:History, 20th Century; D006801:Humans; D007030:Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / Q000502:physiology; D010827:Physiology / Q000193:education* / Q000266:history; D018794:Problem-Based Learning; D013663:Teaching; D013664:Teaching Materials
chemical_list: D000804:Angiotensin II; D000450:Aldosterone; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone