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Comparative studies on the effects of aminoglutethimide, metopirone, ACTH and hydrocortisone on the adrenal cortex of adult male rats. I.

Karyometrical investigations

  • Published:
Virchows Archiv B

Summary

Adult male rats were injected daily for 5 days with 0.9% NaCl (0.3 ml s. c), hydrocortisone acetate (2.5 mg i.m.), ACTH (2 x 1.5 IU i.m.), metopirone (30 mg i.p.) or aminoglutethimide phosphate (2 x 20 mg s.c). After treatment with aminoglutethimide, metopirone or with a small dosis of ACTH an increase in adrenal weight was observed. ACTH leads to increase in plasma corticosterone concentration.

The introduction of hydrocortisone remarkably decreases the volumes of cell nuclei in the zona fasciculata and the zona reticularis. Following ACTH treatment small increases in nuclear volumes were noted in all adrenal cortical zones. Aminoglutethimide in the course of 5 days leads to a marked enlargement of cell nuclei in the zona fasciculata and the zona reticularis. In the hypertrophied adrenal cortex due to metopirone no changes were observed in the volumes of the zona fasciculata cells nuclei, however those nuclei in the zona reticularis underwent enlargement. The administration of isotonic saline brings about a slight enlargement of cell nuclei in the zona fasciculata.

Under the applied experimental conditions only small changes in the volumes of cell nuclei were observed in the zona glomerulosa; the most pronounced changes were noted in the zona reticularis.

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  1. Department of Histology and Embryology, Institute of Biostructure, Poznań Academy of Medicine, Poznań, Poland

    L. K. Malendowicz

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This research was supported in part by a grant from the Zoological Committee, II Department, Polish Academy of Sciences.

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Malendowicz, L.K. Comparative studies on the effects of aminoglutethimide, metopirone, ACTH and hydrocortisone on the adrenal cortex of adult male rats. I.. Virchows Arch. Abt. B Zellpath. 11, 55–65 (1972). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02889386

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02889386

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