STEROID PRODUCTION BY QUARTERED AND CAPSULAR RAT ADRENAL-GLAND IN RESPONSE TO HEMORRHAGE

Abstract

After 60 min of rapid bleeding (1.5-2.0% of body weight) both aldosterone and corticosterone production rate by quartered rat adrenals were elevated. No difference was observed in the rate of aldosterone and corticosterone production by capsular adrenals of sham operated and hypovolemic rats. Corticosterone production rate by decapsulated adrenals was much higher after hemorrhage than in the control group. The same alterations could be observed by incubating adrenal tissue with ACTH (0.3 .mu.g/ml). The steroid production rate by quartered adrenals of Na deficient rats was not affected by high in vitro concentration of angiotensin II (2.5 .mu.g/ml). The effect of acute blood loss on corticosteroid biosynthesis of the rat is probably mediated by ACTH alone.