Effect of Oestradiol in Adrenal Corticoidogenesis : an Additional Step in Steroid Biosynthesis

Abstract

OOPHORECTOMY in the albino rat results in diminished pituitary adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) secretion and in diminished adrenal secretion of corticosterone¹. The latter is demonstrable in peripheral plasma after injection of ACTH or following stress, in adrenal venous effluent, and in adrenal slices incubated in vitro. Administration of oestradiol-17β reverses these effects. Although the adrenal response to oestradiol may, in part, be mediated by changes in ACTH secretion, a direct effect is also suggested by the finding that oestradiol stimulates corticosteroid production when added to adrenal slices in vitro², and when administered to hypophysectomized, oophorectomized rats in vivo³. Additional investigations suggest an apparent inhibition of steroidogenesis in adrenal tissue after oophorectomy⁴. This communication reports observations giving a more specific definition of the relation of the ovary to adrenal function.