Stress Activation of Adrenal Glomerulosa

Abstract

THE experimental data concerning the hormonal regulation of adrenal glomerulosa and its mineralocorticoid production¹ are still inconclusive. The demonstrated dependence of the glomerulosa reaction on the presence of pituitary² as well as on adrenocorticotrophic hormone³ is contradictory to the absence of increased aldosterone secretion by adrenals perfused with either adrenocorticotrophic or somatistrophic hormone in vitro ⁴. Nevertheless, it can be assumed that the former, and stress, activate the adrenal glomerulosa indirectly⁵, mediated by the pituitary-dependent glucocorticoid production, which becomes properly balanced by means of mineralocorticoids⁶. This view will be supplemented by further experimental results.