Inhibition of aldosterone production in adrenal cell suspensions by serum from patients with manic-depressive psychosis.

A method of preparing a suspension of cells of the zona glomerulosa from rat adrenal capsules treated with crude collagenase is described. The cells responded to ACTH, angiotensin II and serotonin by increased production of aldosterone. Pooled human sera or individual human sera (from healthy normal or non-psychiatric in-patients) to a final concentration of 30% had no effect on ACTH-stimulated production of aldosterone. Many serum samples from five patients with manic-depressive psychosis, however, caused a reduction in aldosterone production; 65% of those samples taken during depression, 44% of the samples taken during manic episodes and 23% of the samples taken when the mood was normal. Sera from manic-depressive patients also reduced the production of aldosterone caused by angiotensin II or serotonin. This effect of serum from manic-depressives in vitro may be related to the abnormalities of aldosterone control in such patients.