ON THE EFFECT OF TRIPARANOL ON THE ADRENAL CORTEX OF THE RAT: A HISTOCHEMICAL STUDY

¹ Department of Anatomy, Veterinary College, Helsinki, Finland

A histochemical investigation concerning the effects of triparanol on the adrenal cortex of rats has been carried out. Thirty-four rats were given triparanol either parenterally or per os in dosages varying between 2 and 30 mg daily per rat (body weights 220 to 260 g). The periods of administration varied between 10 and 85 days. The control series consisted of 34 rats kept in tue same external conditions. At the higher dosages loss of weight was observed, but otherwise the test rats showed no external symptoms as compared with the controls.

It was established histochemically that the lipid content decreased and even entirely disappeared after triparanol administration in the region of the fascicular and reticular zones. The succinic dehydrogenase activity increased considerably in the inner part of the fascicular zone and in the reticular zone. In the steroid-3-ol dehydrogenase activity a decrease was observed particularly in the fascicular zone but also in the reticular zone. In the DPN diaphorase activity fluctuations occurred, but the change was not constant.

The above-mentioned changes were seen in all test animals, but they were most distinct in the animals treated with triparanol at high dosages.

The significance of the changes in respect to the function of the adrenal cortex is discussed.