Deoxycorticosterone Secretion in Chronic Experimental Heart Failure and during Infusion of Angiotensin II

Abstract

Experiments were undertaken in dogs to determine the contribution of deoxycorticosterone (DOC) to the increased mineralocorticoid activity in heart failure. Chronic experimental heart failure occurred secondary to induced tricuspid insufficiency and pulmonic stenosis. Simultaneous measurements of DOC, corticosterone and aldosterone revealed average secretion rates of 0.18, 1.50 and 0.020 ug/min., respectively, for 8 normal dogs and 0.18, 1.33 and 0.097 ug/min. for 5 dogs with heart failure. The 5-fold increase in aldosterone secretion was significant at the 5% level. Because of earlier evidence for increased activity of the renin-angiotensin system in experimental heart failure, the effect of angiotensin II on steroid secretion was studied. In acute experiments, intravenous infusion of angiotensin II in normal dogs increased DOC secretion. The explanation for the finding of a normal rate of DOC secretion in heart failure whereas acutely angiotensin II increased DOC secretion is not clear.