FUNCTION OF ADRENAL CORTEX IN MICE WITH SPONTANEOUS ADRENOCORTICAL LIPID DEPLETION

The prepubertal CS mice are known to have normal lipid pattern of the adrenal cortex, whereas the elder adult CS mice have a spontaneous, permanent lipid depletion of the adrenal cortex. The experiments included measurements of plasma corticosterone in ACTH stimulated animals, determinations of the corticosterone content of the adrenals in resting mice, and measurement of the corticosterone production in vitro in adrenals incubated with ACTH. The inbred strain, WLO, with normal adrenocortical lipid pattern was used for comparative studies. The study did not reveal any abnormalities in the adrenocortical function of prepubertal CS male mice. The result of the investigations on adult CS males, 12 weeks of age, were highly suggestive of reduced production of corticosterone by the adrenal cortex.