Examination of the effects of epinephrine, norepinephrine, and dopamine on aldosterone production in bovine glomerulosa cells in vitro

This study was undertaken to explore the possibility that the neurogenic amines epinephrine and norepinephrine may influence aldosterone production in vitro and to examine again the previously reported inhibitory effect of dopamine on aldosterone production. This was accomplished using bovine glomerulosa cell suspensions and a highly specific RIA for aldosterone. Epinephrine and norepinephrine (10(-6) - 10(-10) M) had no significant effect on aldosterone production. Both basal and angiotensin II-stimulated aldosterone production were significantly inhibited by dopamine, 10(-4) M, P less than 0.05. Basal aldosterone production was unaffected by lower concentrations of dopamine whereas angiotensin II-stimulated aldosterone production was inhibited in a dose-dependent manner that was significant to 10(-6) M dopamine (P less than 0.05). Pretreatment of glomerulosa cells with the dopamine antagonist metoclopramide impaired the inhibitory effect of dopamine on aldosterone production. This study supports the hypothesis that dopamine may be a significant inhibitor of aldosterone production in vivo. The other neurogenic amines studied, epinephrine and norepinephrine, had no significant effect on aldosterone production in vitro.