ADRENOCORTICOTROPHIC EFFECT OF STRESS AFTER SEVERANCE OF THE HYPOTHALAMO-HYPOPHYSEAL PATHWAYS

Abstract

In rats, severance of the hypothalamo-hypophyseal pathways was obtained in one expt. through partial hypophysectomy and in another, through pituitary homo-transplantation into the anterior chamber of the eye. After these interventions, a significant discharge of adrenal ascorbic acid was still observed to result from surgical trauma and exposure to cold. It is concluded that the stimulation of corticotropin release by cold or surgical trauma is not necessarily mediated through nervous pathways.