Abstract
The effects of a long-term administration of melatonin on the zona glomerulosa were investigated both in "normal" rats and in animals in which the hypothalamo-hypophyseal-adrenal axis and the renin-angiotensin system had been pharmacologically interrupted. Melatonin caused a notable hypertrophy of zona glomerulosa cells and a significant rise in the plasma concentration of aldosterone in both groups of rats. These findings indicate that melatonin exerts in vivo a strong direct stimulatory action on the growth and steroidogenic capacity of the rat zona glomerulosa.
MeSH terms
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Adrenal Glands / anatomy & histology*
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Adrenal Glands / drug effects
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Adrenal Glands / physiology
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Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / pharmacology
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Aldosterone / blood
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Angiotensin II / pharmacology
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Animals
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Captopril / pharmacology
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Cell Nucleus / drug effects
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Cell Nucleus / ultrastructure
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Dexamethasone / pharmacology
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Endoplasmic Reticulum / drug effects
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Endoplasmic Reticulum / ultrastructure
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Melatonin / pharmacology*
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Mitochondria / drug effects
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Mitochondria / ultrastructure
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Rats
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Rats, Inbred Strains
Substances
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Angiotensin II
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Aldosterone
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Dexamethasone
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Adrenocorticotropic Hormone
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Captopril
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Melatonin