Chronic Angiotensin Treatment Stimulates the Growth and the 11β-Hydroxylase Activity of Rat Zona Fasciculata Cells

Summary

Long-term angiotensin-II (All) administration provokes a time-dependent rise in the volume of zona fasciculata cells and in the plasma concentration of corticosterone in rats treated with dexamethasone and maintenance doses of ACTH. The AII-induced zona fasciculata cell hypertrophy is coupled with comparable increases in the surface area per cell of the mitochondrial cristae and in the activity per cell of llβ-hydroxylase. These findings suggest that All enhances the growth and the steroidogenic capacity of rat adrenal zona fasciculata.

Key words

Adrenal cortex - Renin-angiotensin system - Steroidogenesis - Morphometry