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Accumulated data from in-vitro experiments have suggested that 18-hydroxysteroids may be stored within the intact rat adrenal zona glomerulosa. The phenomenon was further investigated by comparing the amount of steroid remaining in the zona glomerulosa tissue with that secreted into the media during incubation in vitro. The results showed that 18-hydroxydeoxycorticosterone (18-OH-DOC) and 18-hydroxycorticosterone (18-OH-B) were retained within the tissue against a considerable concentration gradient, with smaller amounts of aldosterone and corticosterone. Lysis of the intact zona glomerulosa, by preincubation in distilled water, yielded an enriched plasma membrane preparation. After subsequent incubation in Krebs–Ringer bicarbonate this preparation contained significantly more 18-OH-DOC than did the intact tissue, suggesting that tissuesequestered 18-OH-DOC is normally metabolized to other products. These may include 18-OH-B and aldosterone.

Fractionation of homogenized intact zona glomerulosa and the enriched plasma membrane preparation by density gradient centrifugation showed that tissue 18-OH-DOC banded in fractions of density 1·063– 1·21 g/ml and that its distribution was highly correlated with protein. Corticosterone, 18-OH-B and aldosterone banded like added free [³H]18-OH-DOC in fractions of density < 1·006 g/ml.

The results suggest that 18-OH-DOC is the major sequestered steroid within the rat adrenal zona glomerulosa and that this sequestration is attributable to the association of 18-OH-DOC with a high-density component of the plasma membrane.

J. Endocr. (1988) 117, 191–196