Relation of the Ovary to Adrenal Corticosterone Production and Adrenal Enzyme Activity in the Rat

Abstract

Corticosterone production in vitro by adrenal homogenates from oophorectomized rats is decreased compared to homogenates from intact or estradiol-treated, oophorectomized animals. This decrement occurs with the addition of either NADP and glucose-6-phosphate or NADPH alone. The defect also persists after unilateral adrenalectomy or administration of large doses of ACTH. Adrenal corticosterone production is stimulated in slices or homogenates obtained from hypophysectomized, oophorectomized rats given estradiol. Oophorectomy produces no change in the following adrenal constituents: cholesterol, phosphorylase, phosphodiesterase, 5'- nucleotidase, glucose-6-phosphatase, hexokinase, phosphoglucoisomerase, ATP-ase and lactic dehydrogenase. Adrenal glycogen, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, malic dehydrogenase and isocitric dehydrogenase are increased after oophorectomy, whereas the activities of the 3 dehydrogenases are reduced after estradiol replacement. These data suggest that the effects of oophorectomy and estradiol replacement on adrenal corticosterone production are independent, at least in part, of changes in endogenous ACTH secretion. Moreover, they are independent of the capacity of the adrenal gland to generate NADPH. (Endocrinology77: 902, 1965)