Abstract
Summary
We have shown that prolactin most likely plays an important regulatory role in the control of adrenal gland steroido-genesis. Both adrenal progesterone and corticosterone secretion were strongly influenced by the administration of this hormone to Ovx rats. Our data also suggest that the proestrous surge of plasma prolactin may be partially responsible for the enhanced secretion of adrenal corticosterone observed on that day of the cycle.
Adrenal progesterone is secreted in a daily rhythm which is in phase with the corticosterone secretion in Ovx rats. Moreover, a comparable temporal shift in both of these rhythms in constant light animals suggests that these rhythms may be under control of the same regulatory system.
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