Functional Response of Regenerating Adrenal Glands to Stress. ∗

Abstract

Summary

Plasma corticosterone changes were studied in response to stress in normal rats and in animals bearing 2 regenerating adrenals and 1 regererating adrenals and 1 regenerating adrenal at intervals of 2, 3, 6 and 12 weeks after enucleation. Such glands were capable of elevating systemic blood corticosterone levels in response to stress by 2 weeks, the increase being greater in those with 2 regenerating glands than in those with one. The functional capacity of regenerating adrenals as determined by the elevation in plasma corti-costerone following stress progressively increased from minimal ability at 2 weeks to maximum capability at 12 weeks, but the functional capacity of normal adrenals was never regained.

The authors wish to thank Mrs. Ann Thornberry and Mrs. Mary Lou Pranter for technical assistance.