In arterial hypertension or congestive heart failure, myocardial fibrosis is associated with an activated renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS). This reactive fibrosis presents as an excessive accumulation of fibrillar collagen within the normal connective tissue structures of the myocardium in either ventricle, irrespective of its haemodynamic load. It therefore would appear that circulating (hormonal) and not haemodynamic factors are responsible for this adverse fibrous tissue response. The cardiac fibroblast expresses mRNA for types I and III collagens, the major fibrillar collagens in the heart, and for collagenase or matrix metalloproteinase 1 (MMP 1), the key enzyme for interstitial collagen degradation. Therefore, adult rat cardiac fibroblasts were cultured to ascertain whether the RAAS effector hormones angiotensin II (Ang II) or aldosterone (Aldo) directly stimulate collagen synthesis or inhibit MMP 1 production. Collagen synthesis, determined by 3H-proline incorporation and MMP 1 activity determined by degradation of 14C-collagen, were measured under serum-free conditions in confluent, quiescent fibroblasts after 24 h incubation with Ang II or Aldo over a wide range of concentrations (10(-11) -10(-6) M). In addition, collagen synthesis was measured after incubation with the mineralocorticoid, dexoycorticosterone (DOC), or the prostaglandin, PGE2. Collagen synthesis, normalized per total protein synthesis, increased significantly in a dose-dependent manner after incubation with either mineralocorticoid hormone, Aldo or DOC, or after incubation with Ang II compared with untreated control cells. In contrast, collagen synthesis was significantly decreased with PGE2 treatment. This increase in collagen synthesis in Ang II or mineralocorticoid-stimulated fibroblasts could be completely abolished by Ang II type 1 or mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists, respectively. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)