[Effect of aldosterone on the secretion of endothelin by ventricular fibroblasts]

Using cell culture, radioimmunoassay for endothelin and RT-PCR, the effect of aldosterone on the endothelin secretion of ventricular fibroblasts was studied. The results showed that aldosterone (1 x 10(-7) mol/L) promoted the expression of ppET-1 mRNA, which began to increase in 2 hours and attained the highest level in 4 hours, thereafter decreased; aldosterone increased the endothelin level in ventricular fibroblasts and fibroblast conditioned growth medium (FCGM) as well, which was blocked by spironolactone (1 x 10(-6) mol/L), an aldosterone receptor antagonist. The results suggest that aldosterone can increase endothelin secretion by ventricular fibroblasts, which can be inhibited by its receptor antagonist spironolactone.