Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 14, 2026

Establishment of Zone-Enriched Primary Cultures from the Mouse Adrenal Cortex
Published on: May 8, 2026
The growth-promoting effects of angiotensin II in adrenal glomerulosa cells: an interactive tale
Mélissa Otis1, Shirley Campbell, Marcel D Payet
1Service of Endocrinology, Faculty of Medicine, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada J1H 5N4.
Abstract:
The zona glomerulosa of the adrenal cortex is well-known for its high level of proliferation, compared to the adjacent zona fasciculata, both in in vivo and in vitro conditions. Angiotensin II (Ang II) is a potent growth factor for glomerulosa cells, appearing as a proliferative factor in vivo, under sodium-deficient diet conditions, as well as in vitro, in studies conducted with whole zona glomerulosa. However, in cells maintained in primary culture for 3 days, Ang II rather promotes cellular hypertrophy with a concomitant arrest in basal cell proliferation. The present essay aims at providing experimental arguments supporting such unexpected observations, with particular focus on the modulatory impact of the extracellular environment on Ang II action, namely AT(1) receptor-induced signaling pathways and cell responses.
Related Concept Videos
Antihypertensive Drugs: Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors
Hormones of the Adrenal Glands
The adrenal cortex, a powerhouse of hormone synthesis, generates over two dozen corticosteroid hormones. The zona glomerulosa produces mineralocorticoids, exemplified by aldosterone, influencing the electrolyte composition of body fluids. The synthesis of glucocorticoids such as cortisol and corticosterone...
Antihypertensive Drugs: Angiotensin II Receptor Blockers
Hormonal Regulation
Antihypertensive Drugs: Direct Renin Inhibitors
Anatomy of the Adrenal Glands
These glands possess a distinctive yellow tinge due to the stored cholesterol and fatty acids required for hormone synthesis. They are encased in a fibrous capsule and cushioned by fat.
The adrenal gland comprises two distinct regions...

