Effects of alpha1-antagonists on production and release of aldosterone and other steroid hormones by porcine adrenocortical cells in vitro.

Quinazoline type alpha1-adrenoceptor antagonists (range 10-100 microM) inhibited aldosterone release of a cell suspension of porcine adrenocortical cells, potency order: doxazosin > prazosin > trimazosin. Phenoxybenzamine also inhibited the aldosterone release at a concentration of 100 microM. Alpha1-adrenoceptor antagonists from other chemical classes had no measurable effect on the aldosterone output from adrenocortical cells in vitro.

Effects of atipamezole, detomidine and medetomidine on release of steroid hormones by porcine adrenocortical cells in vitro.

The 4-substituted imidazole type alpha2-adrenoceptor ligands atipamezole, detomidine, and medetomidine were screened for actions on the release of aldosterone by a suspension of porcine adrenocortical cells with deoxycorticosterone (1 microM) as substrate. Progesterone, pregnenolone or corticosterone (all at 1 microM) were also used as substrates. With pregnenolone as substrate, drug-induced effects on the output of nine steroids (aldosterone, corticosterone, cortisol, deoxycortisol, testosterone, progesterone, 17alpha-hydroxyprogesterone, androstenedione, dehydroepiandrosterone) were monitored simultaneously.

Differential effects of nitrofurans on the production/release of steroid hormones by porcine adrenocortical cells in vitro.

Changes in the biogenesis of corticosteroids caused by nitrofurans were studied. The three nitrofurans used: furazolidone, furaltadone and nitrofurantoin, altered the steroid production/release by porcine adrenocortical cells in vitro during 1 h incubations. With pregnenolone as a substrate the nitrofurans inhibited aldosterone production/release.

Screening for drug-induced alterations in the production and release of steroid hormones by porcine adrenocortical cells in vitro.

To screen drugs rapidly and at minimal expense for their potential to alter steroidogenesis, an in vitro model using porcine adrenocortical cells was developed. Pregnenolone, progesterone, deoxycorticosterone or corticosterone (all at 1 muM) were used as substrates. Drug-induced changes in the production/release of aldosterone were measured after 1-hr incubation.