Differential short- and long-term effects of insulin on ANG II action in human adrenal glomerulosa cells

An experimental study of the chronic and acute effects of insulin on angiotensin II (ANG II)-induced synthesis of aldosterone in cultured adenomatous and normal human adrenal glomerulosa cells reveals that short-term treatment of insulin blocks ANG II-induced synthesis of aldosterone while chronic insulin treatment promotes ANG II activity. An arachidonate metabolic pathway involving 12-lipoxygenase mediates ANG II-induced aldosterone synthesis and suppression of this pathway contributes to the harmful effects of insulin. Thus, chronic and acute levels of insulin have different effects on ANG II activity.