[Establishment of human adrenal gland and aldosterone-producing adenoma culture and the effect of alpha-human atrial natriuretic factor on aldosterone secretion in vitro].

Human adrenal gland and aldosterone-producing adenoma (APA) obtained from adrenalectomy could be maintained in vitro for one to two months. The explants continued to secrete aldosterone for the duration of culture. This method was superior to monolayer cell culture. The influence of alpha-human atrial natriuretic factor (alpha-hANF) was investigated by treating cultures of normal adrenal cortex and APA with alpha-hANF (10(-8) mol/L and 3 x 10(-8) mol/L respectively). We measured aldosterone in culture media collected at 2h before alpha-hANF treatment and 0.5, 2, 4 and 24h after. It was found that alpha-hANF stimulated aldosterone secretion of normal adrenal tissue but slightly inhibited that of APA.