Serotoninergic stimulation of aldosterone secretion in the rat in vivo: role of the renin-angiotensin system

ABSTRACT Serotoninergic control of aldosterone secretion in vivo was investigated in conscious rats with indwelling arterial cannulae. Serial blood samples were taken from the animals before and after i.p. administration of 1 ml (4 g/l) 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP), the precursor of serotonin, or saline and they were analysed for 5-HTP, serotonin, 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid, plasma renin activity (PRA), corticosterone, aldosterone, sodium and potassium concentrations. The role of the renin-angiotensin system was investigated in animals pretreated for 1 week with the angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor captopril (25 mg/day). 5-HTP caused a significant increase in all parameters within 45 min except for sodium and potassium. Saline administration showed no significant effect. Captopril pretreatment did not impair the increase in any parameter by 5-HTP, with the exception of the aldosterone response which was significantly attenuated, though not completely. The results show that administration of 5-HTP, which increases serum serotonin levels, stimulates PRA, aldosterone and corticosterone secretion. Captopril pretreatment inhibits the aldosterone response, suggesting that the aldosterone stimulatory properties of 5-HTP require the presence of angiotensin II, although it is unclear whether it acts in a mediatory or permissive capacity. The failure of captopril to inhibit the aldosterone response completely suggests the involvement of other mechanisms such as the hypothalamo-pituitary adrenal axis or a direct action of serotonin on the adrenal. Journal of Endocrinology (1991) 130, 347–355