Adrenergic control mechanism for ACTH secretion in man

In order to determine if an adrenergic mechanism is involved in the secretion of corticotrophin (ACTH), the effect of adrenergic-blocking or -stimulating agent on plasma ACTH, cortisol and glucose levels was studied in normal human subjects.

The intravenous infusion of methoxamine, an alpha adrenergic-stimulating agent, caused a rise in plasma ACTH and cortisol. This increase in plasma ACTH and cortisol was significantly inhibited by the simultaneous administration of phentolamine, an alpha adrenergic-blocking agent, in combination with methoxamine. The intravenous infusion of propranolol, a beta adrenergic-blocking agent, caused no significant change in plasma ACTH and cortisol, although it enhanced the plasma ACTH response to insulin-induced hypoglycaemia. On the other hand, alpha adrenergicblockade by intravenous infusion of phentolamine significantly suppressed the plasma ACTH response to insulin-induced hypoglycaemia. These studies suggest a stimulatory effect of alpha receptors and a possible inhibitory effect of beta receptors on ACTH secretion in man.