CORTICOSTEROIDOGENIC POTENTIAL OF REGENERATED RAT ADRENAL AUTOGRAFTS AND ENUCLEATED GLANDS1

Abstract

The corticosteroidogenic potential of regenerated rat adrenal autografts to mesenteric and intramuscular sites and of enucleated glands regenerated in situ was measured in vitro by blue tetrazolium and ultraviolet-analysis of methylene dichloride extract residues of Krebs-Ringer incubation medium and in vivo by the water intoxication test. Compared to intact controls, adrenals regenerated 30 days or more exhibited normal in vitro output rates/unit tissue weight in the absence or presence of ACTHar (10 I. U./100 mg. adrenal) irrespective of regeneration site or age. Mesenteric transplants regenerated 14 days showed approximately 50% reduction in output rates without apparent loss of ACTH sensitivity. None afforded normal protection against water intoxication after regenerating 30, 60 or 90 days. In vivo, enucleated glands were functionally superior to transplants at all periods, while the mesenteric were superior at 60 but similar at 90 days to intramuscular transplants. Relative functional ability was generally but not consistently correlated with corresponding adrenal weight differences.