Intra-adrenal interactions in fish: catecholamine stimulated cortisol release in sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax L.)
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Updated: Aug 11, 2026

Visualizing the Interrenal Steroidogenic Tissue and Its Vascular Microenvironment in Zebrafish
Published on: December 21, 2016
Josep Rotllant1, Neil M Ruane, Maria T Dinis
1Centre for Marine Sciences (CCMAR), Campus de Gambelas, University of Algarve, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal. rotllant@umbi.umd.edu
Abstract:
The effect of the catecholamines, adrenaline and noradrenaline, on sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) and sea bream (Sparus auratus) interrenal cortisol production was studied in vitro using a dynamic superfusion system technique. Increasing concentrations of catecholamines (10(-6), 10(-8) and 10(-10) M) stimulated cortisol production in a dose-dependent manner, in sea bass only. The increase in cortisol production stimulated by adrenaline (10(-6) M) and noradrenaline (10(-6) M) was inhibited by sotalol (2 x 10(-5) M), but not by prazosin suggesting that catecholamines stimulate cortisol release through the beta-receptor subtype. To evaluate catecholamine-induced signal transduction in head kidney cells, measurements of cAMP production and [H3]myo-inositol incorporation were determined in head kidney cell suspensions. Adrenaline and noradrenaline (10(-6) M) increased cAMP production, but had no effect on total inositol phosphate accumulation. These results indicate that catecholamines released from the chromaffin cells within the interrenal tissue may act as a paracrine factor to stimulate interrenal steroidogenesis in the sea bass.
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