Serotonin regulation of aldosterone secretion

Horm Metab Res. 1988 Jul;20(7):457-9. doi: 10.1055/s-2007-1010859.

Abstract

The circulating levels of aldosterone (A), cortisol (F), prolactin, ACTH and potassium and the PRA were studied in 8 (6 males and 2 females) healthy normotensive subjects after 5-hydroxy-tryptophan (5OHT), or pizotifen (Piz) or placebo oral administration. In the same subjects 5OHT was administered twice: after placebo and after dexamethasone pretreatment. The results showed a significant increase of A, ACTH and F after 5OHT plus placebo administration without any change of PRA, potassium or prolactin levels; dexamethasone pretreatment suppressed ACTH and F but was uneffective on the response of A to 5OHT. Only A levels showed a significant decrease after Piz administration, the other studied parameters were unaffected by the blockade of the 5HT2 receptors by Piz. The administration of placebo induced a slight but not significant decrease of the studied parameters. Our results suggest the existence of a physiologic serotonergic control of A secretion, a pituitary factor could be one of the putative links between the central serotonergic activation and the adrenal secretory response.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Controlled Clinical Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • 5-Hydroxytryptophan / pharmacology*
  • Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / blood
  • Aldosterone / blood
  • Aldosterone / metabolism*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Hydrocortisone / blood
  • Male
  • Pizotyline / pharmacology*
  • Potassium / blood
  • Prolactin / blood
  • Renin / blood
  • Serotonin / physiology*
  • Thiophenes / pharmacology*

Substances

  • Thiophenes
  • Pizotyline
  • Serotonin
  • Aldosterone
  • Adrenocorticotropic Hormone
  • Prolactin
  • 5-Hydroxytryptophan
  • Renin
  • Potassium
  • Hydrocortisone