HORMONAL MODULATION OF ATRIAL-NATRIURETIC-FACTOR RECEPTORS IN ADRENALFASCICULATA CELLS FROM FEMALE RATS

We recently reported that the hormonal status of female rats modified atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) receptors and the aldosterone-suppress ant activity of ANF in adrenal glomerulosa cells; here we investigated if this was also true for adrenal fasciculata cells. Adrenal fascicul ata cells from animals in different hormonal states contained guanylat e cyclase linked ANF-R1 receptors but not ANF-R2 (clearance) receptors . The concentration of ANF-R1 receptors in cells from intact virgin ra ts was insignificantly higher than in cells from 13- to 15-day pregnan t rats and significantly higher than in cells from ovariectomized (OVX ), OVX beta-estradiol-treated, and OVX progesterone-treated rats. Unde r none of the hormonal states did ANF suppress adrenocorticotropic hor mone (ACTH) stimulated corticosterone secretion. Data suggest that the interactions between ANF and ACTH on mineralocorticoid and glucocorti coid synthesis markedly differ.