Mitochondrial Changes in the Adrenal Glands Following the Administration of 7,12-Dimethylbenzanthracene

Abstract

Adrenal cortical necrosis and apoplexy have been described by Huggins and Morii to follow single or multiple intravenous injections of 7,12-dimethyl-benzanthracene into female Sprague-Dawley rats. This phenomenon is species- and strain-specific and occurs within a few days after DMBA administration. The mechanism by which the chemical exerts its damaging effect on the adrenals is not known although it has been suggested that the 7-hydroxymethyl derivative produced in the liver is the responsible agent. The adrenal cortical necrosis is dose-related and can be prevented by pre-treatment of the animals with 3-methylcholanthrene or Sudan III.In the present study the adrenal glands from 31 animals which had developed breast tumors after treatment with 7,12-DMBA were studied by light and electron microscopy. Five animals were injected with DMBA and five weeks later were injected with tritiated thymidine three hours before sacrifice. The adrenals from these animals were studied by autoradiography.