Adrenocortical System Response to Induction of Inflammation with Silicon Dioxide in Rats with Alloxan-Induced Diabetes Mellitus

Alloxan-induced diabetes mellitus in rats was characterized by persistent increase in blood levels of corticosterone, while chronic granulomatous inflammation induced by silicon dioxide and its combination with alloxan-induced diabetes mellitus were associated with transient increase in blood corticosterone level followed by gradual development of hypoadrenocorticism. The content of corticosterone in the adrenal glands of rats with alloxan-induced diabetes mellitus remained unchanged in the dynamics of the disease, but the level of progesterone decreased at the early terms of diabetes and then returned to the initial values. After administration of silicon dioxide to intact rats and to rats with diabetes mellitus, changes in hormone content in the adrenal glands were observed only at the initial stages of inflammation and consisted in elevation of corticosterone concentration against the background of reduced progesterone content.