Changes in Rat Adrenal Ascorbic Acid and Glutathione Following Hypophysectomy and ACTH Stimulation1

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Abstract
The effect of hypophysectomy and ACTH stimulation on the concentration and state of oxidation of rat adrenal ascorbic acid and glutathione has been investigated, employing specific, sensitive enzymic procedures. No detectable level of either of the oxidized forms, dehydroascorbic acid or oxidized glutathione, was observed in adrenals from normal, hypophysectomized or ACTHstimulated animals. The concentration of glutathione in adrenals from 24-hr hypophysectomized rats was 1.12 μg/mg wet tissue. Longer periods after hypophysectomy resulted in a gradual fall in concentration of both glutathione and ascorbic acid. However, with maximal ACTH stimulation, ascorbic acid concentration dropped more than 50% while glutathione remained unchanged. The relationship of ascorbic acid and glutathione to the major systems controlling their state of oxidation is discussed.