STUDIES ON THE BIOSYNTHESIS OF ALDOSTERONE IN SOLITARY ADENOMA AND IN NODULAR HYPERPLASIA OF THE ADRENAL CORTEX IN PATIENTS EXHIBITING CONN'S SYNDROME

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
The pattern of aldosterone biosynthesis in solitary (primary) adrenal cortical adenomata and in nodular adrenal hyperplasia in patients exhibiting Conn's-syndrome was studied by incubation in the presence of 4-14C-progesterone. The production of radioactive aldosterone and 18-hydroxycorticosterone in solitary adenomata was considerably higher than in the surrounding tissue, indicating increased 18-hydroxylase activity. This could be responsible for the hypersecretion of aldosterone in Conn's-syndrome due to primary adenoma. The formation of 14C-aldosterone and 14C-18-OH-corticosterone in adrenal tissue with micro-or macronodular hyperplasia was minimal, indicating an absence of the substrate (corticosterone) specific 18-hydroxylase hyperactivity. The mechanism of the hyperaldosteronism in patients with nodular hyperplastic adrenal, is not clear. Two possibilities are discussed: hyperfunction of the synthesis in a phase prior to progesterone. hyperactivity of the biosynthesis pathways of aldosterone bypassing progesterone and corticosterone.

This publication has 0 references indexed in Scilit: