EFFECT OF DIETARY FATS AND OILS ON ADRENAL CHOLESTEROL

Abstract

DURING a study of the anti-thyroid compound which occurs in rape seed (Carroll, 1949), it was observed that when rats were fed on diets containing high proportions of rape seed for two weeks or more, their adrenals were much whiter than those of normal rats. This effect had previously been noted by Kennedy and Purves (1941). Their histological studies indicated hypertrophy of the adrenal cortex with a great increase in the lipoid content of the cortical cells. In the experiments to be described it will be shown that the changes produced in the adrenal cortex are independent of the anti-thyroid activity of rape seed and are produced mainly by a factor contained in the seed oil. The results obtained by feeding a variety of other oils and fats are also presented. Young male rats of the Sprague-Dawley strain were used in these experiments unless otherwise indicated.