ABSENCE OF STRESS-INDUCED AND “COMPENSATORY” ADRENAL HYPERTROPHY IN DOGS WITH HYPOTHALAMIC LESIONS1

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Abstract
A series of normal dogs and dogs with hypothalamic lesions were subjected to comparable degrees of repeated acute stress and the effect of such stress on their adrenal histology and adrenal weight studied. In addition, a series of normal dogs and dogs with hypothalamic lesions were subjected to left adrenalectomy, followed in 2 weeks by right adrenalectomy, and the weight and histologic appearance of the 2 glands compared. Normal animals respond to repeated trauma with an increase in adrenal size and histologic evidence of adrenocortical hypertrophy. Hypothalamic lesions which do not involve the median eminence do not prevent this response, but when the median eminence is one-half or more destroyed this hypertrophy is absent. Normal animals and animals with hypothalamic lesions sparing the median eminence show a 20% increase in right adrenal size 2 weeks after left adrenalectomy. No compensatory hypertrophy occurs in the dogs with lesions destroying the median eminence. Unlike hypophysectomized dogs, dogs with destruction of half or more of the median eminence do not show adrenal atrophy even after prolonged periods of time.

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