Failure of Somatostatin and β-Endorphin to Affect Bovine Adrenal Cortex Cells In Vitro

Abstract

The main intention of this study was to examine the effect of cyclic somatostatin (SRIF) on bovine adrenal cell activity in vitro. β-Endorphin was applied in another course of experiments. Basal aldosterone secretion when measured was found to be 0.86 ± 0.33 ng per 10⁵ cells and 1.5 h incubation time in the glomerulosa cell fractions. Cortisol production was 1.6 ± 0.3 ng per 10⁵ cells in the fasciculata/reticularis cell incubates respectively. No effect was observed when cyclic somatostatin (SRIF) was added to cell incubates of the bovine adrenal cortex. However, aldosterone secretion was increased 4.5-fold in the presence of 10^-9M ACTH or 10^-8M At II. Cortisol production was enhanced similarly after addition of 10^-9M ACTH. Increasing concentrations of β-endorphin had only a weak and non-significant effect on aldosterone production by the zona glomerulosa cell incubates.