INDEPENDENCE OF ADRENAL HYPERPLASIA AND GONADAL MASCULINIZATION IN THE EXPERIMENTAL ADRENOGENITAL SYNDROME OF FROGS1

Abstract

Effect of steroid hormones on adrenal and gonadal development was studied in parallel groups of intact and hypophysoprivic frog larvae. In comparison with controls all hypophysoprivi have much reduced adrenals. Methyltestosterone administrations do not obviously change size or structure of adrenals. Estradiol and equilenin produce an extensive adrenal hyperplasia in intact larvae. The artificial estrogens stilbestrol, benzestrol, and fenocyclin do not cause adrenal hyperplasia. Since natural estrogens do not bring about adrenal enlargement in hypophysoprivic larvae, while injections of ACTH into such larvae restore at least the normal condition, it is concluded that estrogens induce adrenal hyperplasia by activating ACTH release through the hypophysis. It is suggested that this reaction may play a biologically important role as part of the ovulation mechanism. Ablation of the hypophyseal placode with subsequent absence of the buccal hypophysis does not affect sexual differentiation during the standard larval period (3-4 months). However, in the course of the ensuing year, gonadal development of the hypophysoprivic, perennial larvae makes slow if any progress. In the females, oviducts fail to form. The modifying influence of estradiol and methyltestosterone on sex differentiation takes effect in hypophysoprivic larvae exactly as in intact fraternal groups submitted to the same steroid treatments. It is concluded that under the conditions of the present experiment the hyperplastic adrenal has no androgenic functions, and that adrenal hyperplasia and sex reversal are independent responses to the estradiol administrations.