BIO-AND HISTOCHEMICAL STUDIES ON ENZYMES IN STEROIDOGENESIS IN THE ADRENAL CORTEX OF MATURING RATS

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The developmental process of adrenal function in maturing rats was observed by histo-and biochemical procedures. The activity of Δ⁵-3β-OH steroid dehydrogenase capable of oxidizing Δ⁵-3β-OH steroids to Δ⁴-3-keto steroids, was bio-and histochemically investigated. The distribution of DPNH-diaphorase, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, succinic dehydrogenase, acid phosphatase and lipid was determined by histochemical methods. The body and adrenal weight were markedly increased between 20 and 40 days of age. At the same time, Δ⁵-3β-OH steroid dehydrogenase activity was gradually increased in the fascicular and reticular zones. This enzyme activity in females was higher than in males at the age of 30 days. The lipid free subglomerular zone, a transitional zone, disappeared at 40 days of age only in females. Histochemically, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activity was distributed in a similar way to Δ⁵-3β-OH steroid dehydrogenase except in the intramedullary cortical cells at all ages; this finding might indicate a close relationship between the two enzymes in steroidogenesis. Though the intramedullary cortical cells (Van Dorp and Deane, 1950) were morphologically similar to the reticular zone, the function might be different, since both were different in the distribution of enzymes and lipid. The distribution of succinic dehydrogenase activity paralleled that of acid phosphatase in all age groups. The distribution of DPNH-diaphorase activity was characteristic in its high concentration in the glomerular zone. While the layer highest in succinic dehydrogenase activity gradually moved to the inner part of the fascicular zone with maturation of animals, that in glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and Δ⁵-3β-OH steroid dehydrogenase activities shifted to the outer part and the layer rich in lipid as well.