Dopamine effects on adrenocorticotrophin-stimulated aldosterone, cortisol, corticosterone and 11-deoxycorticosteroid concentrations in sodium-replete and sodium-deplete man

Abstract

ABSTRACT The effect of dopamine (1 μg/kg per min) on corticosteroid response to ACTH (0·1, 1 and 10 ng/kg per min) was compared with that of a placebo in sodium-replete (150 mmol/day) and -deplete (10 mmol/day) normal man. Dopamine had no effect on aldosterone, cortisol or corticosterone responses in either dietary phase, but increased deoxycorticosterone (897·0 ± 126·4 (s.e.m.) vs 590·0 ±84·3 pmol/l, normal Na+; 1264·2 ±84·3 vs 764·5 ±84·3 pmol/l, low Na+) and deoxycortisol (6·033 ± 0·583 vs 5·048±0·680 nmol/l, normal Na+; 5·112 ± 0·600 vs 4·130± 0·367 nmol/l, low Na+) levels during ACTH administration (all P <0·01). Deoxycorticosterone and corticosterone responses to ACTH were greater during sodium depletion than repletion (both P <0·01). Dopamine therefore increased 11-deoxycorticosteroid concentrations during ACTH-stimulated steroidogenesis. This may reflect action of dopamine to increase extra-adrenal formation of 11-deoxycorticosteroids. J. Endocr. (1986) 109, 339–344