Experimental Studies on Adrenocortical Damage

Abstract

1. Invariably in every normal rat a single dose of DMBA by mouth or injected in vein was found to cause apoplexy and massive necrosis in the inner zones of adrenal cortex. Zona glomerulosa, adrenal medulla and small region of cortex adjacent to vasa medullaris were spared from damage. Significant lowering of adrenal and plasma corticosterone was followed by the necrosis. Hemorrhage and necrosis were observed in no organ other than adrenal gland.
2. Five strong carcinogenic hydrocarbons failed to induce adrenal damage in big doses. The entire DMBA molecule was necessary to induce adrenal damage. Fragments of this molecule did not induce adrenal lesions.
3. Adrenal damage caused by DMBA was not a secondary effect through pituitary. More than 2 weeks after hypophysectomy the adrenal of rats became refractory to DMBA. The adrenal of female rats reached to the reactive state upon DMBA at the age of 40-45 days. ACTH could make the reactive adrenals to DMBA in the hypophysectomized or prepubertal rats.
4. In the species of mice, guinea pigs, cats, rabbits and dogs, no adrenal necrosis was induced even by the lethal dose of DMBA, respectively.
5. The mechanism of the adrenocorticolytic action of DMBA was discussed.