{'fraction_non_alphanumeric': 0.031818181818181815, 'fraction_numerical': 0.0018181818181818182, 'mean_word_length': 5.150837988826815, 'pattern_counts': {'":': 0, '<': 0, '<?xml version=': 0, '>': 0, 'https://': 0, 'lorem ipsum': 0, 'www.': 0, 'xml': 0}, 'pii_count': 0, 'substrings_counts': 0, 'word_list_counts': {'cursed_substrings.json': 0, 'profanity_word_list.json': 0, 'sexual_word_list.json': 0, 'zh_pornsignals.json': 0}}
Stimulation of aldosterone production by beta-melanotropin.

Experimental and clinical evidence suggests that a non-ACTH pituitary factor(s) is important in the regulation of aldosterone secretion in certain conditions. Earlier studies have suggested that beta-melanotrophin (beta-MSH) has only weak steroidogenic potency on the adrenal gland in the rat, but recently Challis et al.5 and Rudman et al.6 have reported that alpha- and beta-MSH have a trophic action on fetal adrenal gland. However, little is known about the effect of beta-MSH on aldosterone production. We recently reported that beta-lipotropin (beta-LPH) stimulates aldosterone production in rat capsular cells. As the amino acid sequence of beta-MSH is contained within the beta-LPH structure, we have now investigated the aldosterone-stimulating activity of synthetic beta-MSH. Our results indicate that beta-MSH causes a dose-dependent increase in aldosterone production in rat capsular cells which is blocked by a synthetic beta-MSH analogue. The synthetic hormone does not increase corticosterone production in decapsular cells.