A COMPLEMENTARY ACTION OF CORTICOSTERONE AND DEHYDROEPIANDROSTERONE ON THE MOUSE ADRENAL, WITH OBSERVATIONS ON THE REACTIVITY OF REPRODUCTIVE TRACT STRUCTURES TO DEHYDROEPIANDROSTERONE AND 11-HYDROXY-ANDROSTENEDIONE1

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Abstract
Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHA) and corticosterone (B) had complementary and roughly additive effects in reducing adrenal weights in mice when the adrenal X zone was present. DHA suppressed the X zone whereas B reduced the size of the zona fasciculata. DHA had no effect on adrenal weights in mature mice in which the X zone was not present. The suppression of the X zone by DHA was compatible with apparently normal ovarian and uterine maturation. X zone suppression was produced by doses of DHA which gave only minimal stimulation to seminal vesicle growth, but had pronounced effects on the growth of the preputial glands and the phallus in either sex. 11-hydroxy-[DELTA]4-androstenedione was somewhat less active than DHA in suppressing the X zone, but its effects on reproductive tract structures were of the same order of magnitude. If the reactivity of the human embryonic phallus is similar to that of the immature rodent, excessive production of either of these two adrenal androgens could be expected to account for the genital abnormalities in human female infants with adrenal hyperplasia.