The Role of the Adrenals in the Rise of Liver Enzymes in Tumor-bearing Rats

Abstract

The livers of intact male or female rats bearing a transplanted osteogenic sarcoma contain elevated levels of tryptophan pyrrolase and tyrosine transaminase. Five days after adrenalectomy the enzyme levels become identical to those in nontumor-bearing rats. The results indicate that tumor-bearing is associated with increased pituitary-adrenal activity and that the rise in enzymes (inducible by hydrocortisone) in the tumor-bearing rats is a consequence of increased adrenocortical secretion. The metabolic consequences of this nonspecific effect of tumor on the host are discussed.