Urethane anaesthesia and pituitary-adrenal function in the rat

Abstract

Urethane anaesthesia produced a prolonged hypersecretion of ACTH as shown by plasma and adrenal corticosterone and adrenal ascorbic acid changes. There was also a concurrent depletion of the adrenaline content of the adrenal gland. Adrenal demedullation did not prevent the steroid changes induced by the anaesthetic. Hyperactivity of the pituitary-adrenal axis for 24 hr in the urethane-anaesthetised rats did not prevent further alteration of steroid levels in response to a stress.