Effect of Hypophysectomy on the Adrenal 17-Hydroxycortico-steroid Secretion in Response to Eserine in Dogs

Dogs, anesthetized with sodium pentobarbital, were used. Adrenal venous blood was collected and analyzed for 17-hydroxycorticosteroids (17-OHCS). In intact (non-hypophysectomized) dogs the adrenal 17-OHCS secretion rates increased after injection of eserine (0.2mg/kg) and reached 0.75-1.41μg/kg/min, while they were 0-0.19μg/kg/min before injection. In hypophysectomized dogs an injection of the same dose of eserine did not induce any definite change in adrenal 17-OHCS secretion. Thus, it is concluded that the stimulatory effect of eserine on the adrenal cortical secretion is mediated through pituitary adreno-corticotrophin release.