1980 Volume 11 Issue 4 Pages 343-352
Adrenocortical function in adrenal demedullated (ADMx) and peripherally chemical-sympathectomized ADMx rats was studied by determining adrenal and serum corticosterone (B) levels. Resting levels of B were not changed by adreno-demedullation and peripheral chemical-sympathectomy with 6-hydro-xydopamine. Diurnal variation of B levels was also not changed, suggesting that peripheral adrenergic mechanism would not give any influences on the basal function of hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenocortical axis. Exposure of ADMx rats to stress stimuli, however, resulted in lowered adrenocortical response with less increase in B levels, while peripheral sympathectomy of ADMx rats with 6-hydroxydopamine or guanethidine caused a significant enhancement of adrenocortical response to stress with higher B levels. Adreno-demedullation of rats tended to increase spleen weight, while peripheral sympathectomy with 6-hydroxydopamine of ADMx rats caused a significant increase in spleen weight. Histological changes in the spleen were also described.
