Carbadox-induced inhibition of aldosterone production in porcine adrenals in vitro.

ABSTRACT

Carbadox, a growth promoter used in pig husbandry, inhibited aldosterone production in sliced porcine adrenals in vitro. The adrenal slices, obtained from 3-5-wk-old piglets, were maintained in a Krebs solution and exposed to 1-40 mug carbadox/ml for 1 hr. Aldosterone was estimated (using a solid-phase radioimmunoassay kit) in samples taken hourly for up to 5 hr after carbadox exposure. The results showed a dose-dependent inhibition of aldosterone production by carbadox, with 25-35% inhibition by a concentration of 40 mug/ml. The findings support the hypothesis, based on clinical and histopathological evidence from in vivo experiments in pigs, that carbadox interferes with aldosterone production in the adrenal zona glomerulosa.