Dependence of Pancreatic Integrity on Adrenal and Ovarian Secretions

Abstract

Removal of the adrenal glands from male rats causes a significant decrease in protein content of the pancreas. In addition, microscopic examination of pancreatic tissue from these adrenalectomized animals indicated considerable depletion of zymogen granules. Treatment of such animals with the synthetic glucocorticoid triamcinolone acetonide reverts the biochemical and histological parameters to those observed in the intact animal within 12 hr. The female rat does not demonstrate thesechanges following adrenalectomy. However, if the ovaries are removed in addition to the adrenal glands, alterations similar to those observed in the adrenalectonized male pancreas become apparent. Treatment of the adrenalectomized - ovarectomized rat with triamcinolone acetonide reverts the pancreas to normal. In contrast to the male, the female rat apparently has dual control of the pancreas through estrogenic as well as adrenal cortical hormones. (Endocrinology85: 956, 1969)