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Aldosterone in the brain
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

Aldosterone in the brain

Joel C Geerling and Arthur D Loewy
American journal of physiology. Renal physiology, Vol.297(3), pp.F559-576
09/2009
DOI: 10.1152/ajprenal.90399.2008
PMCID: PMC2739715
PMID: 19261742
url
https://doi.org/10.1152/ajprenal.90399.2008View
Published (Version of record) Open Access

Abstract

Pharmacological and physiological phenomena suggest that cells somewhere inside the central nervous system are responsive to aldosterone. Here, we present the fundamental physiological limitations for aldosterone action in the brain, including its limited blood-brain barrier penetration and its substantial competition from glucocorticoids. Recently, a small group of neurons with unusual sensitivity to circulating aldosterone were identified in the nucleus of the solitary tract. We review the discovery and characterization of these neurons, which express the enzyme 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2, and consider alternative proposals regarding sites and mechanisms for mineralocorticoid action within the brain.
Brain - cytology Mineralocorticoids - metabolism Humans Sodium - metabolism Blood-Brain Barrier - metabolism Brain - metabolism Aldosterone - metabolism Animals Glucocorticoids - metabolism Neurons - enzymology 11-beta-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase Type 2 - metabolism Neurons - metabolism Solitary Nucleus - metabolism

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