Response of host embryonic chicks to grafts of additional adrenal glands. 1. Response of host adrenal glands, gonads, and kidneys

Abstract

The response of host embryonic chicks to the presence of additional amounts of adrenal gland tissue has been explored by grafting an additional gland from an 18-day embryonic donor to the chorioallantoic membrane of an 8-day embryonic host. The grafts were maintained for up to 10 days.The graft had no effect on the body weight of the host, nor on proliferation within the kidney. Proliferation within the gonad of the host was significantly depressed from 1 day postgrafting.Effects of the graft on the host adrenal glands were confined to hyperplasia of cortical tissue up to 12 days of incubation and subsequent reduced proliferation to 18 days. The medullary tissue did not respond to the graft.The significance of these results is discussed in terms of normal development of the adrenal gland, seasonal variations in adrenal function, and the establishment of the adrenal–gonad axis.