The effect of cyproterone and gonadotrophins on the adrenal gland of juvenile and adult rats. A morphological and morphometrical study.
Up to now the question whether antiandrogens and gonadotrophins cause a reaction of the adrenal cortex has not been settled. 32 juvenile and 32 adult male albino rats were divided into 4 groups with 8 animals each. One group of juvenile and of adult rats were treated with cyproterone (Cp) as an anti-androgen, Primogonyl (Pg) served as an LH equivalent and Pergonal (Per) as a FSH-LH dose. One group of juvenile and adult rats served as controls. The animals were killed on the 28th day of the experiment. Microphotographic black-and-white pictures from the histologic adrenal cortex specimens were taken with a magnification of 800. The morphometric and histologic evaluation of the adrenal cortex was carried out separately for the zona glomerulosa (z.g.), the zona fasciculata (z.f.) and the zona reticularis (z.r.). No measurable changes can be found in the z.g. under experimental conditions. Both the juvenile and the adult rats exhibit a distinct atrophy of the z.f. and the z.r. after the administration of Cp and gonadotrophins. The severest regressive transformations can be observed in the adult rats after Cp was given. The atrophy of z.f. and z.r. is obviously due to the inhibition of corticotropic regulation in the hypothalamic-hypophysic axis. This is astonishing in so far as this regulation is usually responsible for the production of glucocorticoid and only to a lesser degree for the production of sex hormone. A glucocorticoid-like effect of Cp is assumed. Similar changes are also caused by the administration of gonadotrophins.
D000302:Adrenal Cortex / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D000311:Adrenal Glands / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects*; D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D003534:Cyproterone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006062:Gonadotropins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D010913:Pituitary-Adrenal System / Q000187:drug effects; D051381:Rats
D006062:Gonadotropins; D003534:Cyproterone