Effects of heavy metals on corticosteroid production in cultured rat adrenocortical cells.

Application of 10(-4) M Zn, 10(-5) M Ba, 10(-6) M Se, 10(-6) M Cd, 10(-6) M Hg, and 10(-6) M Mn did not affect the adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH)-induced steroid production in cultured adrenocortical cells. The application of 10(-5) M Pb significantly reduced the ACTH-induced steroid production in cultured cells. However, Pb did not reduce the steroidogenesis induced by dibutyryl cyclic AMP (Dbc-AMP), suggesting that the plasma membrane is the site where Pb interferes with steroid production. The morphological changes induced by the addition of ACTH or Dbc-AMP plus the test metals were similar to those induced by ACTH or Dbc-AMP alone.