EFFECT OF OVARIAN TRANSPLANTS ON ADRENAL X-ZONE OF CASTRATED MALE MICE

Abstract

HILL (1, 2) and Hill and Strong (3) have reported that ovaries transplanted into the ears of mice secrete androgenic substance. This is evidenced by maintenance of the normal seminal vesicle and prostate conditions in castrated male mice receiving such grafts. The results of Hill (1) and others (4, 5) show that in inbred mice, intra-strain transplantation can be successful. The adrenal gland of the mouse shows an intermediary zone situated between the zona fasciculata and the zona reticularis and designated by Howard-Miller (6) as the ‘X-zone.’ Development of the X-zone, in both sexes, begins at about 9 days and continues until maturity at 28 to 32 days of age (7). At maturity, the X-Zone in the male rapidly disappears by cytolysis of its cells. A connective tissue capsule then forms around the medulla.