ASCORBIC ACID CONTENT OF ADRENAL GLANDS OF YOUNG ALBINO RATS AFTER COLD AND OTHER STRESSES1

Abstract

Infant albino rats are unable to regulate their body temperatures under cold stress prior to 18 days of age. This was first reported by Hill (1947) and was corroborated by Fairfield (1948), Adolph (1948) and Holtkamp et al. (1949). The possibility that the adrenals of infant rats are incapable of active response to ACTH is suggested by the investigations of Emery and Winter (1934) while the report of Holtkamp et al. leads to speculation that, whereas the adrenals of the infant rat may be reactive to stimulation, their products (corticosteroids) may still not be utilized by the rat to maintain its temperature under cold stress. In the light of this possibility it was deemed pertinent to determine the ability of infant rats’ adrenals to respond to the stimulation of other types of stress than cold. methods and materials