RÔLE OF PROGESTERONE AND OTHER HORMONES IN SURVIVAL OF PSEUDOPREGNANT ADRENALECTOMIZED FERRETS

Abstract

In a study of adrenalgonad interrelationships as observed in adrenalectomized ferrets, the following facts were established: Spontaneous estrus, estrus induced by gonadotropic agents or estrin, all accelerate the appearance of adrenal insufficiency, and the cortical hormone requirements of an animal in estrus are at least doubled. The condition of pseudopregnancy, contrariwise, induced either by sterile mating following spontaneous estrus (5 cases), or by gonadotropic agents (7 cases), prevents adrenal insufficiency; and adrenalectomized pseudo-pregnant ferrets require no cortical hormone. This prevention of adrenal insufficiency is dependent upon the presence of luteinized ovaries. The absence of adrenal insufficiency during pseudopregnancy is probably due to the secretion of progesterone, inasmuch as crystalline progesterone in minimal doses approximating 2 mg. per day will maintain adrenalectomized ferrets; either [male][male], [female][female] or castrates, in excellent health without any additional treatment (7 cases). In larger doses (5 mg. per day) it will relieve an established adrenal insufficiency. Testosterone propionate is non-toxic and non-beneficial to adrenalectomized ferrets in doses of 3 to 10 mg. per day (5 cases). An ant. pituitary extract, effective in maintaining the lives of castrate, adrenalectomized cats was non-beneficial in ferrets in doses of 1 and 2 cc. per day (5 cases). Spontaneous estrus is prevented in the ferret by the chronic adm. of progesterone.