THE EFFECT OF ACUTE AND CHRONIC DESOXYCORTICOSTERONE ACETATE PRETRE’ATMENT ON THE PITUITARY-ADRENAL RESPONSE TO STRESS1

Abstract

Desoxycorticosterone acetate, whether admd. acutely in anesthetic doses, or chronically in a dosage sufficient to cause polydipsia, polyuria and adrenal cortical atrophy, does not affect adrenal ascorbic acid concn. Such dosages do not in themselves constitute a stress. The hormone, when given either acutely or chronically, fails to impair the ability of the pituitary-adrenal axis to respond to stress with the usual drop in adrenal ascorbic acid values. Expts. with DCA lend no support to the "peripheral-humoral" concept of pituitary-adrenal control as it applies to severe stress.