On behalf of the organizing committee of this symposium, I would like to wel come you to Cologne and thank you very much for coming. We appreciate that some of the leading scientists in the field of hypertension have accepted our invi tation to participate actively at this conference. Our first symposium on renin-angiotensin, aldosterone, and hypertension took place at Titisee in the Black Forest in 1967. The second one, on the renin-angio tensin-aldosterone system under the influence of therapeutic procedures, was held at the same place in 1970. Five years later in 1975 at a third symposium in Cologne, we discussed the problems of central nervous control of sodium balance in relation to the renin-angiotensin system. The symposium about to begin is devoted to the significance of mineralocorti coids in developing and sustaining arterial hypertension. 1) In order to provide a physiologic background for the understanding of the mechanisms involved in this complicated process, new concepts on the regulation of mineralocorticoid secretion must be discussed in detail. As the most important mineralocorticoid, aldosterone is regulated by changes in sodium and potassium homeostasis and is also influenced by adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH).

Physiological Basis of Mineralocorticoid Hormone Action

Mineralocorticoid Receptors and Extrinsic Specificity-conferring Mechanisms
Intracellular Action of Mineralocorticoids: The Role of the Flavin Coenzymes and Riboflavin Analogs in Hypertension
Regulation of Mineralocorticoids
Novel Control Mechanisms of Aldosterone Secretion
The Diagnostic Value of Urinary Free 18-Hydroxycorticosterone in Primary Aldosteronism
Acute and Chronic Regulation of Aldosterone Secretion in Man
Radioimmunologic Methods in Aldosterone Diagnosis
Pathophysiological Aspects of Mineralocorticoid Excess
Mechanism for Escape from the Sodium-retaining Effects of Mineralocorticoids
Mechanism of Mineralocorticoid-induced Hypertension
The Role of "Mineralocorticoids", "Glucocorticoids" and "Hypertensinogenic" Steroids in ACTH-induced Hypertension
Mechanism of Mineralocorticoid-induced Hypertension in Man
Clinical Aspects of Mineralocorticoid-induced Hypertension
Primary Aldosteronism and Other Mineralocorticoid Excess Syndromes in Hypertension: Incidence, Screening, and Diagnosis
Differentiation of Mineralocorticoid-induced Hypertension
Localization of the Adrenal Lesions in Primary Aldosteronism
Is Idiopathic Hyperaldosteronism a Variant of Essential Hypertension or of Conn's Syndrome?
Mineralocorticoids in Essential Hypertension
Antimineralocorticoids
Structure-Activity Relationship of Antimineralocorticoid Active Compounds
The Relative Potency of Competitive and Non-competitive Mineralocorticoid Antagonists in Man
Spironolactone in Essential Hypertension: Effects on Kidney Function and Plasma Electrolytes in Relation to Salt Intake
Surgical Therapy of Primary Aldosteronism.