EFFECTS OF ADRENOCORTICOTROPIC HORMONE ON BODY GROWTH, VISCERAL PROPORTIONS, AND WHITE BLOOD CELL COUNTS OF NORMAL AND HYPOPHYSECTOMIZED MALE RATS

Abstract

Male rats of the Long-Evans strain, both intact and hypophysectomized, were injd. for 39 days (from the 22d to the 60th day of age) with adrenocorticotropin. Growth was retarded in the intact rats by a dosage of 2 mg. daily, and brought to a stop by 3 mg. daily. The hypophysectomized rats were even more stunted than their controls with a dosage of 2 mg. daily. Some visceral disproportions to body weight developed. In the intact treated rats the liver, heart, kidneys, brain, pituitary and suprarenals were disproportionately heavy, and the spleen, thymus, cervical lymph nodes, testes, seminal vesicles, and prostate were disproportionately light. In the hypophysectomized treated rats the stomach, intestines, heart, lungs, kidneys, brain, and suprarenals were disproportionately heavy, and the spleen, thymus, and cervical lymph nodes disproportionately light. (The reproductive system in the hypophysectomized treated rats was disproportionately light as in the hypophysectomized controls.) Regeneration of hair in shaved areas did not occur in the hypophysectomized treated rats. As judged by roentgeno-grams, skeletal maturation was neither accelerated nor retarded by the treatment. Confirmation is presented for the lymphocytopenic and eosinopenic action of ACTH as seen in chronic admn. of ACTH.