Adrenal Gland Dehydrogenases and Corticosteroid Production in Normal and Arteriosclerotic Female Rats.

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Abstract
Summary The adrenal glands of female breeder rats contain significantly less pentose phosphate cycle dehydrogenase activity than do the glands of virgin females. Consequently, less enzymatic potential for TPNH production is present in the adrenal glands of breeder rats. Since TPNH production may be a rate-limiting factor in cortical steroid synthesis, comparisons were also made of the in vitro steroidogenic capacity of virgin and breeder adrenal glands. When the glands are maximally stimulated by ACTH, in vitro cortical steroid production is again less in breeder females compared to virgin animals. It is suggested that these two observations may be causally related and due to a decreased capacity for TPNH production by these dehydrogenases.