THE EFFECT OF ADRENAL STEROIDS ON THE GROWTH OF THE MAMMARY GLANDS, UTERI, THYMUS AND ADRENAL GLANDS OF INTACT, OVARIECTOMIZED AND OESTRONE-TREATED OVARIECTOMIZED MICE

Abstract

SUMMARY Cortisone (Kendall's compound E) acetate inhibited the growth of the mammary glands (mammae) of intact and oestrone-treated ovariectomized CHI mice, both the growth in area and increase in the number of duct junctions of the mammae being affected. Kendall's compound A acetate, Kendall's compound F and Reichstein's compound S acetate had effects on the mammae which were similar qualitatively to those of cortisone acetate, but differed quantitatively. DCA, on the other hand, acted synergistically with oestrone to increase the total area of the mammae and the number of side branches of the duct systems, but did not cause the growth of alveoli. When used alone, neither cortisone acetate nor compound S acetate affected the mammae of ovariectomized mice, while DCA caused duct growth in about half of the mice to which it was given. DCA and Reichstein's compound S acetate, both alone and in combination with oestrone, increased the weights of the uteri of ovariectomized mice. Compound S acetate increased the weight of the uteri of mice given 0·02 μg oestrone daily, but not of those given 0·01 μg daily. Cortisone acetate at a dose of 100 μg daily, but not of 50 μg inhibited body growth and reduced the size of the adrenal glands. At both dose levels it caused a decrease in the weight of the thymus glands. Kendall's compounds A (acetate), F and B and Reichstein's compound S acetate, at the doses used, did not affect body weight, but did reduce the weight of the thymus gland, and all, except compound B (which was used only at a low dose), reduced adrenal gland weight. ACTH did not affect the mammae of ovariectomized mice when given alone, but inhibited oestrone-induced growth of the mammae in ovariectomized mice. It caused an increase in the weight of the adrenal gland and decreased the weight of the thymus, but did not affect that of the uterus either in ovariectomized or oestrone-treated ovariectomized mice. The value of the number of duct junctions per unit area as an index of mammary gland architecture is discussed.