THE QUANTITATIVE HISTOCHEMICAL DISTRIBUTION OF<i>β</i>-GLUCURONIDASE IN THE ADRENAL OF VARIOUS SPECIES AND THE INFLUENCE OF STRESS CONDITIONS, HORMONAL TREATMENTS AND HYPOPHYSECTOMY¹²

Abstract

AS A continuation of an earlier study by Wattenberg and Glick (1953) on L the quantitative histological distribution of β-glucuronidase in the cow adrenal, the present investigation deals with the distribution of the enzyme in the adrenal of the Macacus rhesus and M. cynomolgus monkey, the rabbit, guinea pig, and rat. Peculiar species differences have been found. Effects were studied of exposure of monkeys to combined hyperthermia and hypoxia, and of injections of ACTH, cortisone or desoxycorticosterone on adrenal β-glucuronidase activity. Observations were also made on the enzyme in the adrenals of monkeys with pulmonary lesions. Effects of hypophysectomy in the rat were likewise determined. EXPERIMENTAL Animals The M. rhesus and M. cynomolgus monkeys used were those which had been em ployed for the study of the distribution of ascorbic acid in the adrenal (Bahn and Glick 1954). They were housed, fed, treated and killed as described previously. Albino rabbits of both sexes were used, having body weights in the range of 3.4–4.5 kg.