CORTISOL PRODUCTION BY ALDOSTERONE-PRODUCING ADENOMAS INVITRO

1. In vitro short-term production of cortisol by dispersed tumour and non-tumorous adrenal cortical cells was measured with and without adde d angiotensin II (AII) or adrenocorticotrophin (ACTH) in adrenals remo ved from five patients with primary aldosteronism. 2. Aldosterone-prod ucing adenomas (APA) were classified as angiotensin responsive (AII-R) or angiotensin unresponsive (AII-U) based on pre-operative behaviour in vivo. 3. Cortisol was produced by both tumour and cortex in vitro w ithout stimulation, and significantly more cortisol was generated by t he cortex. 4. Addition of AII significantly increased cortisol product ion by both tumour and cortex to an equal extent. 5. Addition of ACTH also significantly increased cortisol production by both tumour and co rtex, but tumours were more responsive than cortex. The response to AC TH exceeded the response to angiotensin in both tumour and cortex. 6. There was no obvious difference between AII-R and AII-U APA in terms o f cortisol production.