Cross-regulation of cortisol secretion by adrenocorticotropin and platelet-activating factor in perfused guinea pig adrenals.

We examined the cross-regulation of signaling between ACTH-and platelet-activating factor (PAF)-mediated steroidogenesis in the perfused guinea pig adrenal gland. Our method of in situ perfusion using an artificial medium can evaluate whether cortisol secretion in response to ACTH and PAF is interactive. Treating adrenal glands with 100 pg/ml ACTH diminished the subsequent cortisol response to 10 nM PAF.

Platelet-activating factor acts on cortisol secretion by perfused guinea-pig adrenals via calcium-/phospholipid-dependent mechanisms.

Bilateral adrenals of the guinea pig were perfused in situ with an artificial medium equilibrated with 95% O2/5% CO2. Platelet-activating factor (PAF) induced biphasic cortisol responses, which reached a maximum at 10 nM PAF and declined at 100 nM. The effect of the PAF receptor antagonists CV-3988 and CV-6209 on PAF-stimulated cortisol secretion was examined.