Possible correlation between modified state of the adrenocortical system and the metabolic
fate of 3H-adrenaline in central regions was studied. The formation of 3H-acid metabolites from 3H-adrenaline showed high increase in brain and hypothalamus of hypophysectomized rats
from the value of normal animals. Adrenalectomy was also found to be associated with
increased acid metabolite formation in the whole of the brain. Preadministration of
metopirone increased formation of acid metabolites in the hypothalamus and hypophysis
of normal rats. The transformation of radioactive normetanephrine was significantly
higher in the hypothalamus of rats administered with elliptone as well as with metopirone.
The hypophysis showed increase in metanephrine formation only by pretreatment with
elliptone. Brain tissue demonstrated increased rate of normetanephrine formation after
adrenalectomy and hypophysectomy. Hypophysectomy increased physiological accumulation
of 3H-adrenaline in all the three regions studied but the maximal effect was observed
in the hypothalamus. The preadministration of elliptone and metopirone decreased accumulation
of labeled adrenaline in the brain and hypophysis of normal rats. The results suggest
that inactivation of adrenocortical system either pharmacologically or physiologically
leads to activation of the processes of catecholamine metabolic degradation whereas
the physiological accumulation of adrenaline slows down and this conclusion is valid
for a great majority of observations presented in this study.
Hypophysio-Adrenocortical System
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3H-Adrenaline
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Hypothalamus
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Hypophysis
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Brain of Rats
