OBSERVATIONS ON IN VITRO ADRENAL STEROID SYNTHESIS IN THE RAT1

Abstract

The in vitro production of adreno-cortical steroids has been demonstrated in the rat by Saffran et al. (1952), in the cow by Haynes et al. (1952b) and in the dog by Brady (1953). Both Saffran et al. and Haynes et al. were also able to demonstrate an in vitro stimulatory effect of ACTH on corticoid output. In the work about to be reported, we have endeavored to evaluate the effects of various compounds on the in vitro formation of steroids by rat adrenal glands. MATERIALS AND METHODS Female rats of the Sprague-Dawley strain, weighing about 150 gm., were used in the experiments described below. The incubation procedure was as follows: the animals were sacrificed by manual separation of the cervical vertebrae and the adrenal glands obtained as rapidly thereafter as possible. The glands were cleaned of adherent tissues, weighed on a Roller-Smith torsion balance and cut into quarters with a razor blade.