CORTISOL PRODUCTION BY ALDOSTERONE‐PRODUCING ADENOMASIN VITRO

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Abstract
SUMMARY: 1.In vitroshort‐term production of cortisol by dispersed tumour and non‐tumorous adrenal cortical cells was measured with and without added angiotensin II (AII) or adrenocorticotrophin (ACTH) in adrenals removed from five patients with primary aldosteronism.2. Aldosterone‐producing adenomas (APA) were classified as angiotensin responsive (AII‐R) or angiotensin unresponsive (AII‐U) based on pre‐operative behaviourin vivo.3. Cortisol was produced by both tumour and cortexin vitrowithout stimulation, and significantly more cortisol was generated by the cortex.4. Addition of AII significantly increased cortisol production by both tumour and cortex to an equal extent.5. Addition of ACTH also significantly increased cortisol production by both tumour and cortex, but tumours were more responsive than cortex. The response to ACTH exceeded the response to angiotensin in both tumour and cortex.6. There was no obvious difference between AII‐R and AII‐U APA in terms of cortisol production.