The hypophyseal-adrenal axis in the protein-calorie malnourished rat.
Male rats were fed an 8% low protein diet for 30 consecutive days beginning at 20 days of age. On day 50, the effect of the diet was evaluated on the hypophyseal-adrenal axis and the observations compared with those noted in age-matched controls fed a standard laboratory diet. The malnourished animals had significantly larger adrenal gland weights, relative to body size, and higher levels of serum corticosterone. Additionally, the number of ACTH-secreting cells in the pituitary glands of these rats was 63.8% greater than that present in the controls. These results suggest that ACTH secretion and adrenocortical physiology are stimulated under conditions of experimentally induced protein-calorie malnutrition.
D000311:Adrenal Glands / Q000473:pathology; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000032:analysis; D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight; D003345:Corticosterone / Q000097:blood; D004044:Dietary Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008297:Male; D009929:Organ Size; D010913:Pituitary-Adrenal System / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011502:Protein-Energy Malnutrition / Q000503:physiopathology*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains
D004044:Dietary Proteins; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D003345:Corticosterone