STUDIES OF ACTH ACTION UPON PERFUSED BOVINE ADRENALS: CORTICOSTEROID BIOSYNTHESIS IN ISOLATED GLANDS MAXIMALLY STIMULATED WITH ACTH1

Abstract

Results presented demonstrate that the cow adrenal perfused with homologous citrated blood responds to added ACTH by a 10-to 19-fold increase in corticosteroid production. The magnitude of-corticosteroid output, both in the absence and presence of ACTH, is markedly influenced by the method of preparing glands for perfusion. The venous cannulated lacerated gland produces about 7 times more corticosteroid per unit time per gram gland than arterially perfused preparations in the presence of ACTH, and about 4 times more corticosteroid in the absence of ACTH. Steer glands, on the average, respond poorly to ACTH, in contrast to cow glands. The results on corticosteroid production in the perfused bovine adrenal have been compared to other in vitro adrenal systems.