[Secretion of endothelin-1 by cultured human normal adrenal cells]

Endothelin (ET) is a vasoactive peptide produced by some other types of cells in addition to endothelial cells. The authors investigated into the possibility of ET-1 secretion by cultured human normal adrenal cells. Human normal adrenal cells were prepared by 2% collagenase digestion for 1.5 hours and cultured in DMEM supplemented with 10% FCS. Angiotensin I (10(-9)-10(-7) mol/L) was added to the experimental groups on the 7-9th days of cultivation. Mediums were collected after 24 hours and the levels of aldosterone, cortisol and ET-1 in the mediums were measured by RIA. Other than aldosterone and cortisol, ET-1 was detected in the cultured mediums of human normal adrenal cells. And the secretion of ET-1 was stimulated by angiotesin I. Therefore, it is proposed that ET-1 may play a role by autocrine or paracrine in the human normal adrenal gland.