THE EFFECT OF SYNTHETIC ANGIOTENSIN-II-AMIDE AND METHOPYRAPONE (SU 4885) ON THE HISTOCHEMISTRY OF THE ADRENAL CORTEX OF INTACT AND HYPOPHYSECTOMIZED RATS

Abstract

ABSTRACT The effect of angiotensin-II-amide (Val-5-Hypertensin-II-amide, Hypertensin®, Ciba) and methopyrapone (Metopiron®, Ciba) on the lipid accumulation and activities of glucose-6-phosphate and succinic acid dehydrogenase (G-6-PD and SAD) in the zona glomerulosa (ZG) of intact and hypophysectomized rats was studied. Angiotensin induced lipid accumulation and activitation of the enzyme activity in intact rats. Hypophysectomy produced widening of the ZG and lipid accumulation. In hypophysectomized animals, the enzyme activity decreased markedly in zona fasciculata but appeared fairly intense in the enlarged ZG. The effect of angiotensin on the ZG of hypophysectomized rats was not as clearly defined as in intact animals. Angiotensin, however, seemed further to stimulate the activity of G-6-PD. Methopyrapone alone did not induce any marked changes in ZG of intact rats but when given in conjunction with angiotensin, the effect clearly exceeded that of angiotensin alone with regard to lipid accumulation and the activities of both G-6-PD and SAD. No synergistic effect was found in hypophysectomized animals.