RELATION OF THE ADRENAL CORTEX TO REPRODUCTION AND LACTATION

Abstract

Adrenalectomized [male] rats seldom become pregnant, and cases in which pregnancy occurs are apparently possible because of enlarged accessory cortico-adrenal tissues. Pregnant animals which have been adrenalectomized fail to go through the normal processes of parturition: abortion is common, and lactation does not follow. Removal of 1 adrenal in the [male] rat frequently upsets the normal course of pregnanc, and often results in sterility. In contrast, more severely traumatizing operations than adrenalec-tomy commonly do not affect the normal course of pregnancy in the rat. Bilateral adrenalectomy in the cat usually terminated pregnancy within 48 hrs. Even partial adrenal removal (of 1 or 11/2 glands) in this animal frequently results in early death of the fetuses. Adrenalectomized [male] rats, although in some cases they may survive indefinitely after operation, show reduced fertility compared to normal controls. The presence of accessory adrenal tissues apparently explains the reproductive ability of adrenalectomized [male][male] Extracts of the adrenal cortex give adequate protection to the adrenalectomized pregnant rat, and allow normal reproduction, parturition and lactation to take place.