A Ras-dependent chloride current activated by adrenocorticotropin in rat adrenal zona glomerulosa cells

In the present study, we report that ACTH induces a transient chloride current. The lack of correlation between ACTH-induced cAMP production and amplitude of the Cl- current, as well as the absence of stimulation by forskolin or 8Br-cAMP indicated that the ACTH-induced current was not cAMP-dependent. We explored the possibility that one or several elements of the Ras/Raf MAPK cascade were involved. Indeed, we found that ACTH at 10(-10) hi induced activation of Ras. Inhibition of the current by QEHA peptide, a G beta gamma sequestrant, demonstrated that G beta gamma subunits transduced the message. Blockage of the Ras activation using an inhibitor of farnesyl transferase (BZA-5B) or the monoclonal antibody H-Ras(259) abrogated the current. Moreover, the addition of Ras-GTP gamma S in the pipette medium gave rise to the Cl- current. Treatment of the cells with BZA decreased the aldosterone secretion induced by 10(-10) M ACTH but not that induced by 10(-8) M ACTH, confirming the involvement of Ras in steroid secretion. We conclude that ACTH triggers a Cl- current through the activation of the Ras protein by G beta gamma subunits. This current, activated at physiological ACTH concentrations (1 to 100 pM) where cAMP production is very low, could play a significant role in aldosterone production.