ENDOTHELIN-1 RELEASE FROM THE ISOLATED-PERFUSED RAT ADRENAL-GLAND IS ELEVATED ACUTELY IN RESPONSE TO INCREASING FLOW-RATES AND ACTH(1-24)

Data obtained from the perfused rat adrenal gland demonstrated that immunoreactive endothelin (ET) was rapidly released in response to both mechanically increased flow rates through the gland and the increase in flow rate caused by ACTH(1-24). There was a good temporal correlation between the release of immunoreactive ET and increasing flow rates through the isolated perfused adrenal gland, which was detected immediately and was continuous throughout the period during which flow rate was elevated. The effects of exogenously administered ET were found to be transient; it caused a decrease in vascular perfusion lasting < 30 min. Tn these respects ET fulfils the requirements for it to be a short term paracrine mediator of adrenocortical function. (C) 1994 Academic Press, Inc.