Corticosteroidogenesis by isolated human adrenal cells: Effect of serotonin and serotonin antagonists

Summary The direct effect of serotonin and antiserotonin agents on adrenal steroid biosynthesis was studied in isolated adrenal cells derived from patients with Cushing's syndrome. The results indicate that serotonin increases corticosterone production, while the serotonin antagonists cyproheptadine and methysergide depress adrenal steroid-particularly cortisol and aldosterone-biosynthesis.The authors are indebted to Dr. M. Kárteszi, Institute of Experimental Medicine, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Budapest, for the determination of plasma ACTH by radioimmunoassay in our patients, and to Prof. P. Vecsei, Department of Pharmacology, University of Heidelberg, providing us with highly specific antisera for corticosteroids RIA-s.