Nucleic Acids, Glycogen Deposition and Adrenal Gland Steroidogenesis in Rats with a Pituitary Mammotropic Tumor (MtTF₄)¹

Summary

Rats which have an excess of ACTH, growth hormone and prolactin from a pituitary mammotropic tumor (MtT) show a marked growth of adrenal glands, liver, spleen and kidneys. Protein, DNA, RNA and cell numbers were increased in liver, adrenal glands, spleen and decreased in thymus of tumor bearing rats as compared to intact rats. MtT tumor decreased glycogen deposition in liver, adrenal glands, thymus and pituitary of MtT tumor bearing rats.

Adrenal glands of intact and MtT tumor bearing rats incubated in vitro with 4-¹⁴C progesterone synthetized radioactive 11-deoxycorticosterone, corticosterone, 18-hydroxy-11-deoxycorticosterone, 18-hydroxy-corticosterone, 11-dehydro-corticosterone and aldosterone. Intact adrenals synthetized in vitro per mg tissues 60% higher amount of corticosteroids than adrenal glands of MtT tumor bearing rats.

These results show that pituitary hormones from MtT tumor have multicellular effects. They increased nucleic acid content, cell multiplication and depressed steroid hydroxylation in adrenal mitochondria and glycogen deposition in some tissues of MtTF₄ rats.

Key words

Nucleic acids - glycogen - adrenal gland - mammotropic tumor