Endocrine Abstracts

The corticotropic hormone (ACTH) mainly secreted by the anterior lobe of the pituitary gland which, following a physiological or psychological stress situation, stimulates the adrenal gland and induces the release of glucocorticoids. Many studies have shown their effects on several physiological functions such as immunity, inflammation as well as the cardiovascular system whose action is controlled by ACTH. For this purpose, the study carried out in the wistar rat revealed the effects of a treatment with Cortrosyn (ACTH of synthesis) on the weight and the adrenal structure in the wistar rat. The work was carried out on a lot of rat wistar divided into two lots: one batch of control rat (T) and one batch of treated rat (S) receiving a daily intramuscular injection of Cortrosyn at the rate of 0.01 mg/100 g of weight Body for 20 days. After sacrifice of the animals, the adrenals are taken, weighed and immediately immersed in the fixing liquid in order to carry out the histological techniques. The results show that the intramuscular injection of Cortrosyn resulted in a very significant increase in absolute and relative adrenal weights in treated rats as compared to controls as well as an increase in the number of cells (hyperplasia), a different cell distribution and The appearance of optically empty space. These results to be investigated and could explain why the activation of the adrenal cortex during 20 days by the Cortrosyn would be in favor of an important structural and functional modification of the adrenal gland whose indirect trophic effect of this hormone could be regulated by several factors.

Keywords: Cortosyn; adrenal; ACTH