HOME HELP CONTACT US SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by COLBY, H. D. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by COLBY, H. D.

Department of Physiology and Biophysics, West Virginia University School of Medicine, Morgantown, West Virginia 26506, U.S.A.

(Received 29 November 1977)

The effects of gonadal hormones on adrenocortical function have been described in detail, but many questions remain concerning their mechanism(s) of action. Gonadectomy of male or female rats results in a decline in the secretion of corticosterone by the adrenal glands, an effect which is reversed by replacement with the appropriate gonadal hormone (testosterone or oestradiol; Kitay, 1963; Kitay, Coyne, Nelson & Newsom, 1966; Kitay, 1968). Both testosterone and oestradiol, in promoting the secretion of corticosterone, act on various components of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (Kitay, 1968) including the adrenal cortex itself. In gonadectomized male or female rats, the activity of adrenal 5-reductase increases, enhancing the intra-adrenal conversion of corticosterone to 5-dihydrocorticosterone and 3β,5-tetrahydrocorticosterone (Kitay, Coyne & Swygert, 1970; Colby & Kitay, 1972a). Secretion of 5-dihydrocorticosterone and 3β,5-tetrahydrocorticosterone accounts, at least