Plasma Corticosterone in Adult and Immature Rats without Olfactory Bulbs

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Plasma corticosterone levels and the weight of adrenal glands were studied in rats deprived of olfactory bulbs. The bulbectomy was performed in two groups: (A) adult rats; and (B) 30-day-old immature rats. It was found that plasma corticosterone decreased significantly in adult rats, 30 and 45 days after bulbectomy: from 29.6 ± 1.77 to 22.2 ± 1.12 µg/100 ml (p < 0.01) 30 days directly following the operation, to 12.8 ± 2.03 (p < 0.001) after 45 days. The weight of the adrenal glands was also significantly lower: 30.5 ± 1.57 mg/100 g body weight in normal subjects and 25.5 ± 1.22 mg/100 g in those bulbectomized (p < 0.05). Bulbectomized immature rats showed corticosterone levels significantly lower than those of normal rats, 5 months following operation: 25.2± 5.1 in normal subjects and 10.1 ± 1.1 µg/100 ml in those bulbectomized (p < 0.05). The weight of the adrenal glands was, however, similar to that of normal subjects. It is concluded that the olfactory bulbs in the rat have a tonic stimulating effect upon the hypothalamus-hypophysis-adrenal complex.

This publication has 0 references indexed in Scilit: