Adrenal Function in the Pantothenic Acid-Deficient Rat Liver Glycogen, Blood Glucose, Adrenal Cholesterol and Adrenal Ascorbic Acid Levels ,

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Abstract
The adrenal function of normal and pantothenic acid-deficient rats was investigated by subjection of the animals to anoxic anoxia equivalent to 20,000 feet of altitude for 24 hours without food or water. Measurements of adrenal cholesterol and ascorbic acid, liver glycogen and blood sugar were made before and after the stress period and after fasting alone. Extreme variability was observed in the levels of adrenal cholesterol and ascorbic acid in both normal and deficient rats examined at different seasons. In contrast, liver glycogen and blood sugar levels were fairly constant both as to absolute values and as to pattern among the various experimental groups. The deficient, untreated animals were found to have lower adrenal cholesterol, liver glycogen and blood sugar levels and higher adrenal weights and ascorbic acid levels than comparable normal animals. After exposure to the stress period, the normal rats showed a 15-fold increase in liver glycogen and a significant rise in blood sugar as compared with their fasted controls. Pantothenic acid-deficient animals showed no change in these constituents. A significant decrease in adrenal cholesterol levels following anoxia was observed in both normal and deficient rats. The apparent paradox of an adrenal insufficiency, as indicated by lack of carbohydrate accumulation, concomitant with a decrease in adrenal cholesterol is discussed and a possible hypothesis is postulated.