THE EFFECTS OF ADRENALECTOMY AND CORTISONE ON ZINC METABOLISM IN THE SEX GLANDS AND ADRENAL OF THE MALE RAT

Abstract

The effects of adrenalectomy and of cortisone treatment on the uptake of Zn65 and the concentration of zinc were observed in whole blood, adrenals, testis, and dorsolateral and ventral prostates of the rat. Cortisone was administered to both normal and adrenalectomized animals either as a single dose or as a daily dose over a period of 14 days. Zinc concentration was decreased in adrenalectomized animals in the blood and dorsolateral prostate. The incorporation of Zn65 was decreased after adrenalectomy in the testis and dorsolateral prostate. Daily treatment with cortisone resulted in recovery to normal of the zinc concentrations and uptake of Zn65.The adrenal gland was found to contain a relatively large amount of zinc and this concentration was doubled with the chronic administration of cortisone. A single dose of cortisone had no effect on the concentration of zinc but caused an increase in the uptake of Zn65 in the adrenal.