Studies on the Biosynthesis of Aldosterone Using the Sheep Adrenal Transplant: Effect of Sodium Depletion on the Conversion of Corticosterone to Aldosterone

SUMMARY The effect of sodium depletion on the conversion of corticosterone to aldosterone has been examined in vivo using the adrenal transplants of two sheep. 3HCorticosterone was infused continuously directly into the adrenal gland via the carotid artery over a period of 30 min. and the total adrenal effluent was collected via the jugular vein in six consecutive 5-min. samples. The conversion of 3Hcorticosterone to 3Haldosterone and the endogenous output of aldosterone was measured in each sample using a double isotope derivative method and the specific activity of the aldosterone calculated. Radioactive conversion of B → aldosterone reached equilibrium within 10 min. of the start of infusion and remained constant over a period of 10–25 min. Aldosterone secretion was also constant during the first 25 min. of infusion. In the same sheep the mean percentage conversion increased as aldosterone secretion rose over a range of 2–12 μg./hr. With more severe sodium depletion, i.e. with aldosterone secretion rates of 12–16 μg./hr., conversion decreased to that found in the sodium replete state. The specific activity of the aldosterone was constant throughout the mildly deplete range (2–12 μg./hr.) but fell with severe sodium depletion. In the sodium replete range (0–2 μg./hr.) before the introduction of a parotid fistula, the specific activity was the same as in the mildly deplete state. After the introduction of a parotid fistula the specific activity increased as the secretion decreased from 2 to 0 μg. The validity of the approach and interpretation of the results in terms of the biosynthetic pathways involved are discussed.