AUTOTRANSPLANTATION OF THE ADRENAL OF THE RAT TO THE PORTAL CIRCULATION: EFFECT OF ADMINISTRATION OF ACTH1

Abstract

An extraordinary hypertrophy occurs in the adrenal gland transplanted into the portal circulation of the female rat. This has been shown to be eliminated by castration. In the present studies, in spite of the large dosage of ACTH, the hypertrophy attained in the implanted gland of the castrated female was but half of that which occurred when the ovaries were present. Ordinarily the hypertrophy does not occur in the male. The administration of ACTH to this sex produced only a slight degree of adrenal enlargement which was attributed to the trophic effect of the ACTH and which was not modified by intraportal implantation nor the presence of absence of the tests. It is concluded that the extraordinary hypertrophy of the adrenal implanted into the portal venous bed is strongly dependent upon estrogen and cannot be reproduced to the same extent by the administration of ACTH.