Growth in adrenalectomized rats

Abstract

A study has been made of the causes of growth failure in adrenalectomized rats and its correction by steroid treatment. Adrenalectomized rats grow less well than normal animals, even when they are given saline drinking water; however, if food in the normal is restricted to the reduced levels consumed by the adrenal-deficient animal, growth is found to be greater in the adrenalectomized than in the normal rat. Somatotrophin content of the pituitaries from adrenalectomized rats maintained on saline was determined by bioassay to be virtually the same as the content of the glands of pair-fed controls. Restoration of growth to normal following adrenalectomy was accomplished by treatment with between 0.94 and 1.87 mg/100 gm body wt/day of a steroid mixture containing corticosterone and desoxycorticosterone acetate in a ratio by weight of 10 to 3.