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Abstract
The effect of acetylcholine on aldosterone and catecholamine (noradrenaline and adrenaline) release by Triturus carnifex interrenal gland was studied in vivo by means of repeated intraperitoneal administrations. The modifications shown by the gland were evaluated by combining morphological, morphometrical and biochemical analyses. In March, when the chromaffin cells contain both adrenaline and noradrenaline granules in almost equal quantities, acetylcholine stimulated prevalently adrenaline release; concurrently, the serum aldosterone level appeared reduced. In July, when the chromaffin cells contain prevalently noradrenaline vesicles, acetylcholine enhanced noradrenaline secretion; in this period the serum aldosterone level appeared increased. The different responses of the steroidogenic tissue indicate that acetylcholine directly influences the chromaffin cells, eliciting noradrenaline or adrenaline secretion, and indirectly the steroidogenic cells, via the chromaffin cells: it is suggested that acetylcholine‐induced catecholamine release modulates the steroidogenic cell activity in a paracrine manner.