Emerging evidence indicates that aldosterone and mineralocorticoid receptors (MRs) are associated with the pathogenesis of erectile dysfunction. However, the molecular mechanisms remain largely unknown. In this study, freshly isolated penile corpus cavernosum tissue from rats was treated with aldosterone, with or without MRs inhibitors. Nuclear factor (NF)-kappa B (NF-κB) activity was evaluated...

CONTEXT Patients with primary aldosteronism are associated with increased myocardial fibrosis. Galectin-3 is one of the most important mediators between macrophage activation and myocardial fibrosis. OBJECTIVE To investigate whether aldosterone induces galectin-3 secretion in vitro and in vivo. METHODS AND RESULTS We investigated the possible molecular mechanism of aldosterone-induced galec...

The effect of stimulating and suppressive influences on plasma aldosterone in normal man and in patients with primary aldosteronism were studied using a sensitive double-isotope derivative assay for aldosterone. In normal sitting subjects, values were 9.2+/-0.9 (SE) mmug/100 ml and in subjects supine for 1 hr plasma aldosterone was 5.2+/-0.4 (SE) mmug/100 ml. Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH),...

Aldosterone excess causes insulin resistance in peripheral tissues and directly impairs the function of clonal β-cell. The aim of this study was to investigate the molecular mechanisms involved in the aldosterone-induced impairment of clonal β-cells. As expected, aldosterone induced apoptosis and β-cell dysfunction, including impairment of insulin synthesis and secretion, which were reversed by...

Chronic aldosterone administration increases glomerular filtration rate, whereas inhibition of mineralocorticoid receptors (MRs) markedly attenuates glomerular hyperfiltration and hypertension associated with primary aldosteronism or obesity. However, the mechanisms by which aldosterone alters glomerular filtration rate regulation are poorly understood. In the present study, we hypothesized tha...

Recent studies demonstrated a possible role of aldosterone in mediating cell senescence. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate whether aldosterone induces cell senescence in the kidney and whether aldosterone-induced renal senescence affects the development of renal injury. Aldosterone infusion (0.75 μg/h) into rats for 5 weeks caused hypertension and increased urinary excretion rates ...

In the renal collecting duct (CD) the major physiological role of aldosterone is to promote Na+ reabsorption. In addition, aldosterone may also influence CD water permeability elicited by vasopressin (AVP). We have previously shown that endogenous expression of the aquaporin-2 (AQP2) water channel in immortalized mouse cortical CD principal cells (mpkCCDC14) grown on filters is dramatically inc...

Aldosterone plays a pivotal role in electrolyte and fluid homeostasis and thus control of blood pressure. The "classical" view of aldosterone action is that it targets epithelia of the distal colon and renal nephron to stimulate Na(+) (re)absorption and K(+) secretion. In these cells, aldosterone binds steroid receptors, promoting translocation to the nucleus, where they modulate gene expressio...

It is well known that sodium reabsorption and aldosterone play important roles in potassium secretion by the aldosterone-sensitive distal nephron. Sodium- and aldosterone-independent mechanisms also exist. This review focuses on some recent studies that provide novel insights into the sodium- and aldosterone-independent potassium secretion by the aldosterone-sensitive distal nephron. In additio...

BACKGROUND In this study, we have analyzed the response of human monocyte-derived macrophages to mineralocorticoid axis modulators. METHODS Human monocyte-derived macrophages were incubated with aldosterone alone, eplerenone alone, and the combination of aldosterone and eplerenone. The analyzed variables were nitric oxide and reactive oxygen species production, and the gene and protein expres...