Production of steroids in vivo by regenerated adrenal glands of hypertensive and normotensive rats.

Abstract

Adrenal steroid secretion rates of pregnenolone, progesterone, deoxycorticosterone (DOC), 18-hydroxydeoxycorticosterone (18-OHDOC), and corticosterone (B) were measured in vivo under conditions of operative stress in unilaterally adrenalectomized and nephrectomized rats in which the left adrenal gland had been enucleated and the cortical tissue allowed to regenerate for 4-7 weeks. For comparison, rats which were only unilaterally adrenalectomized and nephrectomized (UAN) and sham operated controls were used. All rats received a 1% NaCl solution sweetened with 5% sucrose, instead of drinking water. One half of the adrenal-enucleated rats developed hypertension (ARH) with blood pressures ranging from 150-210 mm Hg, one half remained normotensive (AR), although the kidneys and hearts were enlarged to the same extent in both groups. The hypertrophy of the kidney was less marked in UAN rats than in AR or ARH rats. Control rats which had two adrenal glands secreted about 3 μg pregnenolone and progesterone per 1...