Abstract
Summary
(1) Enlargement of rat adrenal and thyroid glands following the administration of Amphenone “B”, observed by Hertz, Allen, and Tullner, was confirmed. (2) The adrenal enlargement was associated with an increase in adrenal cholesterol concentration. At the same time, the adrenals remained capable of secreting sufficient steroid to produce a marked fall in circulating eosinophiles. Amphenone “B” may exert its adrenomegalic effect by direct stimulation of the adenohypo-physis to produce ACTH rather than indirectly as seen, for example, in thiouracil-induced goiter. (3) In addition to thyroid enlargement, a marked decrease in I131 concentration in the gland was observed. This could be due to a thiouracil-type of action, although the effects noted within the time relationships of our experiments were similar to those produced by TSH and hence possibly the result of increased secretion of radioiodine rather than a decreased uptake. (4) Decrease in size of the testes was observed in animals given Amphenone “B”. It is postulated that this may be due to a diminished production of FSH brought about either by elevated blood levels of Amphenone “B” itself or by an increase in adrenal corticoids as a result of adrenal stimulation.
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