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Horm Metab Res 1988; 20(7): 457-459
DOI: 10.1055/s-2007-1010859
Clinical

© Georg Thieme Verlag, Stuttgart · New York

Serotonin Regulation of Aldosterone Secretion

E. Maestri, L. Camellini, G. Rossi, G. P. Rossi, C. Dotti, M. Marchesi, A. Gnudi
  • Chair of Endocrinology, University of Parma, and General Hospital of Guastalla, General Hospital of Reggio Emilia, Guastalla, Italy
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Publication History

1987

1987

Publication Date:
14 March 2008 (online)

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Summary

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.

Key-Words

Aldosterone - Serotonin - Adrenocroticotropin - Cortisol - Prolactin Pizotifen