ADRENAL CORTICAL SECRETION BY THE GOLDEN HAMSTER1,2

Abstract

A study of hamster adrenal venous blood as collected by cannulation from the left adrenal has shown that this species secretes hydrocortisone (Cpd. F) and no detectable “trace” steroids. The rate of blood flow through the adrenal, calculated on a body weight basis, is comparable to that of other species; however, the steroid concentration of this blood is 4–10 times less than that reported for other species. A calculated secretion rate of 0.5 mg. F/kg./24 hr./ animal in the hamster is 3-–10 times smaller than secretion rates of the monkey, dog, cat, ox, ferret and rabbit, and 16–48 times smaller than that of the rat. This is the lowest secretion rate of corticoids of any animal reported in the literature.