Influence of Adrenalectomy on the Development of the Neonatal Thymus in the Rat

Abstract
Adrenalectomy of 1-, 6-, 11- and 16-day-old male and female rats did not cause any changes in the weight of thymus 5 days later. Adrenalectomy on days 21,26,31 and 81 of age induced a significant hypertrophy of the thymus 5 days later. These results indicate that after about the time of weaning, the thymus is under some inhibitory regulation by the adrenal gland.