Effect of Carcinogenic Polynuclear Hydrocarbons on Corticosterone and Ascorbic Acid Content of Adrenal Glands in Rats.

Abstract

Summary A single feeding of either DMBA and 3MC caused significant lowering of adrenal corticosterone concentration in the adrenal glands of the rats so treated. The fact that DMBA produced massive necrosis of the adrenal cortex and 3MC did not induce any morphological evidence of damage of cortical cells, suggests that the mechanism by which these 2 carcinogenic hydrocarbons suppress adrenal corticosterone synthesis is not the same. It was also observed that adrenal ascorbic acid was greatly reduced in DMBA-treated rats; its synthesis was significantly enhanced in 3MC-treated rats.