Abstract

Aldosterone is a crucial modulator of ion transport across high resistance epithelia and regulates whole body electrolyte balance through its effects on the kidney and colon. The net consequence of aldosterone release is to promote salt conservation. The genomic mechanism of aldosterone action is relatively well characterized and the role of the classical mineralocorticoid receptor as a ligand-dependent transcription factor is well established. The rapid effects of aldosterone on target tissues are less well understood and there is still controversy over the identity of the aldosterone non-genomic receptor. Greater understanding of the physiological consequences of aldosterone's rapid responses in the kidney and colon has been achieved through the identification of definite and putative membrane targets and their signaling regulators.