THE EFFECT OF ADRENALECTOMY ON THE EPIPHYSEAL CARTILAGE OF THE RAT

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Abstract
During the first wk. and a half after adrenalectomy there is a reduction in the width of the proximal epiphyseal cartilage of the tibia in young growing rats, but not in fully grown rats. This may be prevented by salt treatment, which restores appetite and food intake. It may be imitated in normal rats by restriction of the diet for a wk. It is concluded that narrowing of the carti-lage after adrenalectomy is the result of self imposed inanition. At the end of the 2d postoperative wk., in salt treated adrenalectomized rats, there is an increase in the width of the epiphyseal cartilage. Restoration of the carti-lage occurs more readily upon salt treatment during the 2d wk. after adrenalectomy than upon restoring the diet after a wk. of food'' restriction. It is suggested that this may be accounted for by an increase ("release") in chondro-trophic activity on the part of the ant. pituitary gland.