PCR-SSCP ANALYSIS OF THE ANGIOTENSIN-II TYPE-1 RECEPTOR GENE IN PATIENTS WITH ALDOSTERONE-PRODUCING ADENOMAS

1. In patients with primary aldosteronism due to angiotensin-responsiv e and angiotensin-unresponsive aldosterone-producing adenomas, no diff erences in the coding region of the angiotensin II type 1 (AT1) recept or gene were observed compared to normal subjects in peripheral blood leucocyte DNA. 2. Furthermore, no differences in the AT1 receptor gene were observed in DNA extracted from tumour tissue of either subgroup. 3. Genotypic and allelic frequencies for an RFLP detected in the codi ng region of the AT1 receptor gene were not significantly different be tween normal subjects and patients with aldosterone-producing adenomas as a group, nor between normal subjects and patients of either subgro up when compared with each other.4. In those patients heterozygous in peripheral blood at the RFLP site, tumour DNA showed the same allelic pattern. 5. In patients with aldosterone-producing adenomas either res ponsive or unresponsive to the renin-angiotensin system, no difference s were detected using SSCP analysis in the coding region of the AT1 re ceptor gene in peripheral blood or tumour tissue.