HISTOLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS ON THE ZONA GLOMERULOSA OF THE RAT ADRENAL CORTEX FOLLOWING ADMINISTRATION OF CORTICOTROPIN PREPARATIONS

Abstract

Effects of prolonged administration of ACTH preparations, in gelatin and in aqueous solution, on the adrenal zona glomerulosa of the hypophysectomized, male Sprague-Dawley rat were studied by histological techniques. Results show an action by material of pituitary origin on the zona glomerulosa of the rat adrenal cortex. At doses below one unit (USP) the adrenal lipid pattern was in sharp contrast to those receiving one unit or more. Complete, or almost complete, depletion of the sudanophilic elements of the zona glomerulosa was seen at the lower dose ranges in 52 of 73 rats. Above one unit few animals showed depletion of glomerulosal lipid. Instead, depletion of sudanophilic material occurred in the zona reticularis, inner zona fasciculata and portions of the outer fasciculata. In contrast to the adrenals from animals receiving less than one unit, the lipid present was highly retractile and clumped, the cells vesiculated or necrotic, the cortex itself hypertrophied and the reticular capillaries markedly dilated. Significant differences were seen in the proportions of animals surviving the experimental conditions in the various groups. Those receiving less than one unit of ACTH daily showed a greater proportion of deaths than the saline-treated controls. The groups injected with one unit or more daily did not differ significantly from the controls in this respect.