ADRENAL ASCORBIC ACID CHANGES IN THE GONADECTOMIZED GOLDEN HAMSTER FOLLOWING A SINGLE INJECTION OF DIETHYLSTILBESTROL

Abstract

A single intraperit. injn. of 0.06 mg. of stilbestrol was given to groups of castrated and spayed hamsters and the animals sacrificed after the expiration of the following time intervals: 0, 1/3, 1, 3, 6, 12, 24, 36, 48 and 96 hrs. Chemical analyses of adrenal glands for ascorbic acid showed that gonadectomy results in an accumulation of adrenal ascorbic acid which is twice that of the normal value. Castration is also associated with the removal of a purported "blocking agent" to ACTH-release in the male hamster, so that the castrate responds to a single injn. of stilbestrol as does the. spayed hamster, although at a lower level of ascorbic acid content.