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A chemical and histochemical study of aliesterase in the adrenal gland of the developing mouse

1958; Wiley; Volume: 132; Issue: 2 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1002/ar.1091320208

1097-0185

John M. Allen,

Hormonal Regulation and Hypertension

The activity of histochemically determined aliesterase in the adrenal cortex of the adult mouse has been shown t o be responsive to environmental modification (Allen, '57).I n the zona glomerulosa the activity of this enzyme was increased under conditions of sodium deprivation and was decreased by sodium flooding.Aliesterase in the zona glomerulosa appeared to be independent of the influence of pituitary adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH).On the other hand, aliesterase activity in the zona fasciculata was found to be under the control of ACTH and did not respond to alteration of sodium intake.I n spite of the fact that the physiological role of aliesterase in the adrenal cortex of the mouse is unknown these results suggested that histochemical determinations of the activity of this enzyme might be good indices of the functional status of the tissue.Considerable interest attaches to the establishment of the time a t which the adrenal cortex begins to function in development.Studies of this problem have been made by utilizing histochemical tests f o r lipids (Dawson, ' 5 3 ; Josimorich et al., '51; Lever, '55; Moog et al., '54; van Dorp and Deane, '50).Interpretation of functional status in terms of lipid content, however, appears difficult.A better index might be that given