THE INFLUENCE OF ADRENALECTOMY UPON THE ACTIVITY OF THE HEXOSEMONOPHOSPHATE SHUNT IN THE LIVERS AND MAMMARY GLANDS OF LACTATING RATS

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Abstract
The development of the hexosemonophosphate shunt in mammary tissue and liver of lactating rats has been studied. A sixfold increase in mammary glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase levels between parturition and weaning was accompanied by a considerable increase in 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase activity. The hepatic level of the former enzyme was also elevated 11-fold during this period. Adrenalectomy at parturition, or on the 3rd, 6th, 9th, or 14th days of lactation, depressed the activity of this pathway in mammary gland, a lowered level being observed in all cases after operation. A slight increase in enzyme activity was found in hepatic tissue in the immediate postoperative period; this was succeeded by a decrease.These results are discussed in relation to the growth changes observed in groups of unoperated and adrenalectomized rats.