FURTHER STUDIES ON THE SECRETION OF ALDOSTERONE BY THE RAT ADRENAL GLAND

Abstract

SUMMARY: 1. In rats fed normal diets, the intravenous, subcutaneous or intraperitoneal administration of potassium chloride, either immediately or at graded intervals before the collection of adrenal vein blood, did not increase the secretion of aldosterone. In animals fed low salt diets, excess of dietary potassium did not result in an increase in the secretion of aldosterone. 2. Chloride deficiency in the diet, for a period of 2 weeks, did not affect the rate of aldosterone production. 3. The intravenous administration of hypertonic saline just prior to collection of adrenal vein blood did not affect the rate of aldosterone secretion, but substitution of saline for drinking water for a period of 1 week reduced it. 4. Production of metabolic acidosis resulted in increased secretion of aldosterone. Production of metabolic alkalosis did not affect it. It is concluded from these results that altering the intracellular electrolyte composition of skeletal muscle will not affect the secretion of aldosterone. 5. Removal of peripheral blood either 2 hr, or 26 + 2 hr, before collection of adrenal vein blood in animals fed normal or low salt diets did not influence the secretion of aldosterone. Neither did maintaining the blood volume, with freshly drawn rat blood, during the collection of adrenal vein blood. 6. It was not possible to prevent the release of ACTH associated with the collection of adrenal vein blood by the use of morphine.