Ouabain chronic infusion enhances the growth and steroidogenic capacity of rat adrenal zona glomerulosa: the possible involvement of the endothelin system.

  • Authors:
    • Giuliano Neri
    • Renzo De Toni
    • Cinzia Tortorella
    • Piera Rebuffat
    • Sergio Bova
    • Gabriella Cargnelli
    • Lucia Petrelli
    • Raffaella Spinazzi
    • Gastone G Nussdorfer
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: August 1, 2006     https://doi.org/10.3892/ijmm.2011.315
  • Pages: 315-324
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Abstract

Ouabain, an inhibitor of the Na+/K+-ATPase, has been reported to affect the secretory activity of the adrenal cortex, and especially of zona glomerulosa (ZG). However, conflicting results were obtained, depending on the experimental condition used since ouabain appears to interact with angiotensin-II (Ang-II) and its action to be influenced by the electrolyte balance. Hence, we investigated the effects of prolonged (4-month) infusion with ouabain on the rat adrenal cortex. Ouabain raised the plasma concentrations of aldosterone, corticosterone and endothelin-1 (ET-1), without affecting either systolic blood pressure (SBP) or plasma renin activity (PRA). The treatment caused a marked hypertrophy of ZG and ZG cells, which mainly ensued from increases in the volume of the mitochondrial and smooth-endoplasmic-reticulum compartments, where the enzymes of steroid synthesis are located. Conversely, the volume of the lipid-droplet compartment, which stores cholesterol utilized in steroid-hormone production, underwent a striking decrease. Zona fasciculata and its parenchymal cells were not affected. Basal and maximally agonist (ACTH, Ang-II and ET-1)-stimulated in vitro mineralocorticoid secretion from adrenal slices was also notably enhanced by ouabain administration. Collectively, these findings indicate that prolonged treatment with ouabain selectively stimulates the growth and steroidogenic capacity of the rat adrenal ZG. The possibility that the activation of the renin-angiotensin system may be involved in this effect of ouabain is ruled out by the lack of significant changes in SBP and PRA. Instead, our results suggest the possible involvement of ET-1, the plasma level of which is elevated in ouabain-infused rats.

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August 2006
Volume 18 Issue 2

Print ISSN: 1107-3756
Online ISSN:1791-244X

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Spandidos Publications style
Neri G, De Toni R, Tortorella C, Rebuffat P, Bova S, Cargnelli G, Petrelli L, Spinazzi R and Nussdorfer G: Ouabain chronic infusion enhances the growth and steroidogenic capacity of rat adrenal zona glomerulosa: the possible involvement of the endothelin system.. Int J Mol Med 18: 315-324, 2006
APA
Neri, G., De Toni, R., Tortorella, C., Rebuffat, P., Bova, S., Cargnelli, G. ... Nussdorfer, G. (2006). Ouabain chronic infusion enhances the growth and steroidogenic capacity of rat adrenal zona glomerulosa: the possible involvement of the endothelin system.. International Journal of Molecular Medicine, 18, 315-324. https://doi.org/10.3892/ijmm.2011.315
MLA
Neri, G., De Toni, R., Tortorella, C., Rebuffat, P., Bova, S., Cargnelli, G., Petrelli, L., Spinazzi, R., Nussdorfer, G."Ouabain chronic infusion enhances the growth and steroidogenic capacity of rat adrenal zona glomerulosa: the possible involvement of the endothelin system.". International Journal of Molecular Medicine 18.2 (2006): 315-324.
Chicago
Neri, G., De Toni, R., Tortorella, C., Rebuffat, P., Bova, S., Cargnelli, G., Petrelli, L., Spinazzi, R., Nussdorfer, G."Ouabain chronic infusion enhances the growth and steroidogenic capacity of rat adrenal zona glomerulosa: the possible involvement of the endothelin system.". International Journal of Molecular Medicine 18, no. 2 (2006): 315-324. https://doi.org/10.3892/ijmm.2011.315