ADRENALINE INFUSION AND ADRENOCORTICOTROPHIN (ACTH) AND CORTISOL RELEASE IN NORMOTENSIVE AND HYPERTENSIVE MAN

1. Adrenaline causes ACTH release from cultured rat pituitary corticotrophs (Vale et al. 1983) and there is evidence that it causes ACTH release in rats in vivo (Plotsky et al. 1985). 2. The present study examined the effects of intravenous adrenaline infusion with and without simultaneous administration of the known ACTH secretagogue, arginine vasopressin, in normotensive and mild essential hypertensive men on their plasma ACTH and cortisol levels. 3. Low dose adrenaline infusion (0.013 microgram/kg per min) does not cause ACTH or cortisol release, but appears to blunt the ACTH and cortisol rise caused by arginine vasopressin (0.14 pressor units/kg, i.m.).