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. 1967 Dec;46(12):1916–1924. doi: 10.1172/JCI105681

A Study of the Mechanisms by Which Adrenocorticotropic Hormone Maintains Adrenal Steroidogenic Responsiveness*

Robert L Ney 1,2, Richard N Dexter 1,2, Warren W Davis 1,2, Leonard D Garren 1,2
PMCID: PMC292944  PMID: 4294571

Abstract

Following hypophysectomy in the rat, there was a progressive decline in the rate of adrenal protein synthesis in vivo during the ensuing 24-48 hr, and an accompanying decrease in the acute corticosterone secretory response to an intravenous injection of ACTH. There was a similar decrease in the in vitro conversion of Δ5-pregnenolone, progesterone, and deoxycorticosterone to corticosterone. These in vivo and in vitro effects of hypophysectomy could be reversed by the administration of depot ACTH for an additional 7 hr period. However, if cycloheximide, an inhibitor of protein synthesis, was administered concomitantly with the depot ACTH, then the restorative actions of ACTH on the steroid biosynthetic pathway were prevented. These experiments suggest that ACTH maintains not only the general structure of the adrenal cortex, but also the level of the steroid biosynthetic mechanism, through its effects on adrenal protein synthesis.

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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