EVIDENCE FOR DIENCEPHALIC REGULATION OF ALDOSTERONE SECRETION1

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Abstract
A LTHOUGH considerable attention has been focused upon the primary and secondary roles of aldosterone in pathological states (1), much of the fundamental physiology of aldosterone secretion is as yet unknown. In particular, the mechanism for regulation of adrenal secretion of this steroid has remained obscure. It has been demonstrated that the steroid is secreted at relatively high levels following hypophysectomy (2). The prolonged administration of hydrocortisone, which leads to marked suppression of adenohypophyseal release of ACTH and of the adrenal secretion of hydrocortisone and corticosterone, does not affect aldosterone secretion (3). These findings indicate that the secretion of aldosterone is not dependent upon the adenohypophysis in contrast to the secretion of the other adrenocortical steroids. The following experiments were designed to investigate the possibility of the existence of a cerebral structure which regulates the secretion of aldosterone.