Adrenocortical steroidogenesis: the effects of prostaglandins.

Prostaglandins E(1) and E(2) significantly stimulated the synthesis of aldosterone, corticosterone, and to a lesser degree, cortisol in the outer slices of beef adrenal tissue. PGA, PGF(1a), and PGF(2a) were ineffective.PGE(1) was found to stimulate steroidogenesis in a manner similar to that of adrenocorticotropin (ACTH) in (a) needing calcium, (b) being inhibited by puromycin but not actinomycin D, (c) increasing the levels of cyclic AMP, and (d) not having an additive effect to exogenous cyclic AMP. PGE(1) did not produce an additive effect with either submaximal or maximal amounts of ACTH but did have an additive effect with angiotensin. These results are in keeping with the hypothesis that PGE(1) shares a receptor site on the plasma membrane with ACTH.