Abstract
Summary
Gonadectomy of adult male rats resulted in hypertrophy of the adrenal glands. Total adrenal steroid (blue tetrazoli-um positive) production in vitro was similarly augmented. Corticosterone secretion both in vitro and in vivo was unaffected. The ratio of corticosterone to total steroid, therefore, gradually declined following removal of the testes. This effect is explained by a concomitant increase in adrenal 5a-reductase activity after orchiectomy, resulting in greater conversion of corticosterone to 5a-reduced metabolites.
The authors are grateful to Mrs. Nancy Swygert and Mrs. Andrea Newsome for expert technical assistance.
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