INVOLUTION OF THE ADRENAL CORTEX IN RATS FED WITH THIOURACIL1

Abstract

The adrenal cortex of rats fed with 40 mg. or more of thiouracil daily undergoes involution which may reduce it to less than half its size if treatment is continued for 3 or 4 mos. All 3 zones of the cortex are involved in this shrinkage. The fascicular zone shows a greater amt. of lipid material than that normaly seen, while in the remaining two zones, the lipid is reduced. There is extreme congestion that often results in hemorrhage in the reticular zone from which cysts may arise. The cortical involution is regarded as an attempt to compensate for the loss of thyroid secretion.