Fetal-Maternal Adrenal Cortical Response to Stress in the Intact and Hypophysectomized Rat

Abstract

The secretion of ACTH in response to stress was studied in both maternal and fetal rats. The stress response of the hypophysectomized pregnant rat was also investigated. In intact pregnant rats there was an adrenal ascorbic acid depletion (–27%) and corticosterone increase (+144%) which did not occur in the stressed hypophysectomized pregnant rats. Fetuses from intact and hypophysectomized pregnant rats showed no evidence of adrenal cortical stimulation in response to histamine injection, surgery, explantation in vitro for 40 min or ether anesthesia of the mother. It is concluded that 1) placental ACTH is not mobilized in response to stress, and 2) the fetal rat does not exhibit an adrenal cortical response to stress. (Endocrinology74: 737, 1964)