Table 3.

Plasma levels of corticosterone after bilateral ADX with low (10 mg) or high (50 mg) corticosterone replacement or SHAM surgery

Group	Corticosterone (μg/dl)		% Weight gain	n
	A.M.	P.M.
Naive	0.11  ± 0.04	5.74  ± 1.19	14.1  ± 0.8	6
SHAM	0.27  ± 0.14	7.30  ± 1.11	12.2  ± 1.3	6
ADX	ND	ND	3.0  ± 2.3*	5
ADX + 10 mg	2.42  ± 0.20	1.19  ± 0.29**	11.5  ± 1.2	6
ADX + 50 mg	7.47  ± 0.88	6.83  ± 0.82	2.5  ± 1.9*	6

A naive group was also included that did not undergo any experimental manipulation. Blood was taken by tail vein sample ∼2 hr after lights on (A.M.), 3 d after surgery, and at the time of killing (trunk blood), 1–2 hr before lights off (P.M.), 7 d after surgery. Levels of plasma corticosterone were not detectable (ND) in any of the ADX animals. The percentage of weight gain over the 7 d period after surgery is also indicated. Data are expressed as mean ± SEM.

*p < 0.01, Tukey post hoc multiple comparisons test, with respect to naive, sham, and ADX + 10 mg groups. A significant decrease in corticosterone release was noted in the ADX + 10 mg group between days 3 and 7 (**p < 0.01; Student's t test).