Receptors and steroid-dependent hypertension

1. Repeated observations indicate that ACTH administration causes hypertension. 2. Development of hypertension requires 17 alpha-hydroxyprogesterone and 17 alpha,20 alpha-dihydroxy-4-pregnene-3-one to be present in association with other steroids. 3. The hypertensinogenic activity of corticosteroids is distinct from their glucocorticoid and mineralocorticoid effects. 4. The location of central and peripheral receptors for this hypertensinogenic activity is not clear. 5. The physiological mechanisms that mediate the response are unknown, though a number of potential mediating effects has been demonstrated. 6. The overall importance of unusual steroids and steroid actions in human essential hypertension still requires elucidation.