Observations on Phosphorylase Activity Distribution in the Adrenal Cortex: Effect of ACTH

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Abstract
A histochemical study of adrenal cortical phosphorylase activity in the rat is described. Enzyme activity is consistently present in the glomerulosal zone. In the female, enzyme activity is consistently present and intense in the outer fascicular zone while in the male fascicular zone activity is weaker, not as uniformly distributed, and occasionally not demonstrable. Phosphorylase activity in the cortex is markedly inhibited by alcohol in substrate concentrations which seem to enhance both liver and skeletal muscle enzyme activity. Differences appear to exist between glomerulosal and fascicular phosphorylase activity in terms of their ability to be reactivated by ATP and Mg + + following inactivation by preincubating sections in buffer and PVP. In no instance were we able to enhance cortical phosphorylase activity by ACTH in either acute or chronic experiments.