IN VITRO CORTICOSTEROIDBIOSYNTHESE IN PROLIFERIERENDEN RATTENNEBENNIEREN

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Abstract
Proliferation of the adrenal cortex was induced in rats by adrenal enucleation according to the procedure described by Skelton (1955) or by prolonged administration of corticotropin (ACTH). Adrenals cut into quarters were incubated with 4-C14-progesterone or/and l,2-3H-cortexone and the incorporation of the precursor radioactivity into 18-OH-corticosterone, aldosterone, 18-OH-cortexone and corticosterone was used as an index of corticosteroid biosynthesis. Identical alterations in the corticosteroid synthesis patterns were found after adrenocortical regeneration following enucleation and after ACTH treatment: the synthesis of 18-OH-corticosterone and aldosterone was considerably reduced; the synthesis of 18-OH-cortexone and corticosterone was increased. The formation of aldosterone from progesterone was reduced to a greater extent than from cortexone, according to the 3H/C14 ratios found after incubation with l,2-3H-cortexone and 4-14C-progesterone. This similarity indicates that the functional state of the adrenal cortex during Skelton regeneration could serve as a model of the supra-adrenal Cushing syndrome.