Estrogen Influence on Pituitary and Adrenal Function in the Rat

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Abstract
Cortlcosterone output in the adrenal vein and ACTH in peripheral vein plasma were measured in control groups of female rats and in groups receiving 2. 5 and 4. 0 mg of Depo-estradiol cyclopentylpropionate. In the presence of a significant decrease in corticosterone output under stress, the plasma ACTH level was almost doubled in the estrogen-treated animals 18-21 days after injection. These findings are consistent with a compensatory increase in plasma ACTH resulting from a block in total corticosterone synthesis. Adrenal glands from control and estradiol-treated animals were incubated in vitro in the presence of 11-desaxycorticosterone (DOC). The hydroxylation of l4C-DOC by adrenal homogenates from the treated animals was found to be increased 36-76% as compared to control animals. Thus, the hydroxylation reaction was apparently increased in vitro although total synthesis of corticosterone was decreased in vivo.