Nifedipine blocks ACTH and cortisol release in man

Effect of endothelin-1 in man--impact on basal and stimulated concentrations of luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, thyrotropin, growth hormone, corticotropin, and prolactin with and without pretreatment with nifedipine

In healthy men, intravenous (IV) endothelin-1 suppresses the growth hormone (GH)-releasing hormone (GHRH)-stimulated increase in GH and prolactin (PRL) and augments corticotropin (ACTH)-releasing factor (CRF)-stimulated secretion of ACTH. Since some actions of endothelin-1 on pituitary function in vitro are antagonized by calcium channel antagonists, we have studied the effect of pretreatment with oral nifedipine (10 mg, given before infusion of endothelin-1 or vehicle) on basal and stimulated concentrations of pituitary hormones in a group of healthy men (N = 6). The augmentative effect of endothelin-1 on CRF-induced ACTH secretion (P < .05) was counteracted by pretreatment with nifedipine. Pretreatment with nifedipine further inhibited (P < .01) the GHRH-induced increase in plasma concentrations of GH (P < .05), which, in keeping with previous data, had already been reduced by IV endothelin-1 alone (P < .05). Thus, both endothelin-1 and nifedipine influence pituitary hormone secretion in healthy man. However, nifedipine does not ubiquitously counteract the effects of endothelin-1 since it enhances some of its actions on the pituitary and diminishes others. Endothelin-1 may therefore influence pituitary function by mechanisms other than activation of calcium channels alone.

L-type calcium channels and CRH-mediated ACTH and cortisol release in humans

1. The effect of pretreatment with nifedipine on naloxone-stimulated corticotrophin-releasing hormone (CRH)-induced adrenocorticotrophin (ACTH) release in humans was investigated. The mean peak plasma ACTH and cortisol levels and the mean peak change in cortisol levels from basal were significantly lower in the nifedipine/naloxone test than in the naloxone alone test. The integrated areas under the ACTH-time and cortisol-time curves were reduced by 33 and 49%, respectively, in the nifedipine/naloxone test compared with the naloxone alone test. These results correlate well with published in vitro studies. 2. Acute administration of oral nifedipine partially inhibited naloxone-stimulated ACTH and cortisol release, probably by blockade of plasma membrane voltage-dependent L-type calcium channels normally activated following binding of CRH to pituitary corticotroph receptors. 3. Naloxone-induced CRH release may replace insulin hypoglycaemia testing of pituitary ACTH reserve in humans.