SOME ASPECTS OF ZONATION AND FUNCTION OF THE ADRENAL CORTEX

Abstract
SUMMARY: Male adult rats, with established drinking patterns, were given the choice of saline or tap water to drink, immediately after adrenal enucleation. Both saline and water were taken, but by the 6th day after operation the rats had returned to drinking predominantly tap water. The adrenals at this stage showed a small compact cortex, no distinguishable zona glomerulosa, and they appeared to be composed for the most part of cells in 'fascicles'. Adrenalectomized animals chose saline, drinking more and more pari passu with time. Other short-term enucleated animals were injected with ACTH, and the tendency for the regenerating cortex to form in 'fascicles' was very pronounced.