The effect of hypothalamic lesions on adrenal function in intact and adenohypophysectomized cockerels

Abstract

Electrolytic lesions in the ventral tuberal area of the hypothalamus had contrary effects upon adrenal function of intact and adenohypophysectomized cockerels, as measured by corticosterone concentration in adrenal vein plasma: adrenal function decreased in intact birds, while it increased in adenohypophysectomized birds. Lesions in any other area of the hypothalamus had no influence upon adrenal function. Interrenal tissue atrophied in adrenals of adenohypophysectomized cockerels, and there was loss of differentiation between interrenal and chromaffin tissue. The interrenal tissue at the periphery appeared stimulated and exhausted of its granulation. Adrenals of adenohypophysectomized birds which were also lesioned showed little change from those in adenohypophysectomized birds. Interrenal cells in the periphery of adrenals of intact birds which were lesioned showed a decrease in activity, and an increase in amount proportional to chromaffin tissue. The histology of adrenal interrenal cells lying between the periphery and the center of the gland appeared to reflect the levels of corticosterone concentration in adrenal vein plasma. While adenohypophysectomy caused a decrease in adrenal weight, hypothalamic lesions had no effect. While the data appears to support the current view of the role of the hypothalamo-hypophyseal axis in regulation of adrenal function in intact cockerels, there is no indication from this study that the extrahypophyseal support for adrenal function in adenohypophysectomized cockerels resides in the hypothalamus.