The Functional Interrelationship of the Anterior Pituitary and the Adrenal Cortex

Article1 September 1951THE FUNCTIONAL INTERRELATIONSHIP OF THE ANTERIOR PITUITARY AND THE ADRENAL CORTEXDWIGHT J. INGLE, Ph.D.DWIGHT J. INGLE, Ph.D.Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-35-3-652 SectionsAboutPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail ExcerptThe size and the secretory activity of the adrenal cortex are controlled to a major extent by the adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) of the anterior pituitary. The anterior pituitary adjusts its output of ACTH to meet the physiologic "needs" of the organism for cortical hormones. This paper is a review of some of the laboratory and clinical observations bearing upon this interrelationship. Some of the illustrations are drawn from my own laboratory data and experiences.1. CONTROL OF ADRENAL CORTEX SIZE AND REGENERATIONThe fact that hypophysectomy causes atrophy of the adrenal cortex was first demonstrated by Allen1and Smith2in...Bibliography1. Allen BM: Effects of the extirpation of the anterior lobe of the hypophysis of Rana pipiens , Biol. Bull. 32: 117-130, 1917. CrossrefGoogle Scholar2. Smith PE: The effect of hypophysectomy in the early embryo upon the growth and development of the frog, Anat. Rec. 11: 57-64, 1916. CrossrefGoogle Scholar3. Allen BM: Experiments in the transplantation of the hypophysis of adult Rana pipiens to tadpoles, Science 52: 274-276, 1920. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar4. SmithSmith PEIP: The function of the lobes of the hypophysis as indicated by replacement therapy with different portions of the ox gland, Endocrinology 7: 579-591, 1923. CrossrefGoogle Scholar5. Smith PE: The disabilities caused by hypophysectomy and their repair, J. A. M. A. 88: 158-161, 1927. CrossrefGoogle Scholar6. CollipAndersonThomson JBEMDL: The adrenotropic hormone of the anterior pituitary lobe, Lancet 2: 347-348, 1933. CrossrefGoogle Scholar7. LiEvansSimpson CHHMME: Adrenocorticotropic hormone, J. Biol. Chem. 149: 413-424, 1943. CrossrefGoogle Scholar8. SayersWhiteLong GACN: Preparation and properties of pituitary adrenotropic hormone, J. Biol. Chem. 149: 425-436, 1943. CrossrefGoogle Scholar9. TeppermanEngelLong JFLCN: A review of adrenal cortical hypertrophy, Endocrinology 32: 373-402, 1943. CrossrefGoogle Scholar10. Halstead WS: Auto- and iso-transplantation in dogs, of the parathyroid glandules, J. Exper. Med. 11: 175-199, 1909. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar11. Ingle DJ: The time for the occurrence of cortico-adrenal hypertrophy in rats during continued work, Am. J. Physiol. 124: 627-630, 1938. CrossrefGoogle Scholar12. IngleHigginsKendall DJGMEC: Atrophy of the adrenal cortex in the rat produced by administration of large amounts of cortin, Anat. Rec. 71: 363-372, 1938. CrossrefGoogle Scholar13. Ingle DJ: Control of regeneration of the adrenal cortex in the rat, Symposium on Pituitary-Adrenal Function, AAAS, 1951, The Horn-Shafer Company, Baltimore, pp. 49-55. Google Scholar14. Kepler EJ: Cushing's disease: A primary disorder of the adrenal cortices? Ann. New York Acad. Sc. 50: 657-678, 1949. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar15. SayersSayersLiangLong GMATYCN: The effect of pituitary adrenotrophic hormone on the cholesterol and ascorbic acid content of the adrenal of the rat and the guinea pig, Endocrinology 38: 1-9, 1946. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar16. SayersSayersFryWhiteLong GMAEGACN: The effect of adrenotropic hormone of the anterior pituitary on the cholesterol content of the adrenals, Yale J. Biol. and Med. 16: 361-392, 1944. MedlineGoogle Scholar17. SayersSayers GMA: The pituitary-adrenal system. Recent progress in hormone research, Vol. 2, 1948, Academic Press, New York, pp. 81-115. Google Scholar18. Gemzell CA: The effect of corticotrophic hormone and oestrogen on liver glycogen content and phosphate metabolism in the adrenal cortex, Acta Endocrinol. Suppl. 1: 1-75, 1948. MedlineGoogle Scholar19. GrayMunson WDPL: Rapidity of pituitary adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) release in response to stress, Federation Proc. 9: 278, 1950. Google Scholar20. Pincus G: Regulation of adrenal cortical secretion. Transactions of the First Conference on the Adrenal Cortex, 1950, Josiah Macy, Jr. Foundation, New York, pp. 47-88. Google Scholar21. Li CH: The present status of the chemistry of ACTH. Transactions of the Second Conference on the Adrenal Cortex, 1950, Josiah Macy, Jr. Foundation, New York, pp. 11-47. Google Scholar22. LuftSjögrenLi RBCH: Results of administration of adrenocorticotrophically active peptide (ACTH peptides) to a patient suffering from rheumatoid arthritis, Acta Endocrinol. 3: 299-309, 1949. CrossrefGoogle Scholar23. KinsellLiMargenMichaelsHedges LWCHSGDRN: Evaluation of the metabolic effects of a peptide mixture derived from pure adrenocorticotropic hormone. Symposium on Pituitary-Adrenal Function, AAAS, 1951, The Horn-Shafer Company, Baltimore, pp. 122-127. Google Scholar24. Selye H: The physiology and pathology of exposure to stress, Acta, Inc., 1950, Montreal, Canada. Google Scholar25. AlbrightForbesBartter FAPFC: How many adrenocorticotropic hormones are there in man? Transactions 17th Conference on Convalescence, 1948, Josiah Macy, Jr. Foundation, New York, pp. 139-148. Google Scholar26. Swann HG: The pituitary-adrenocortical relationships, Physiol. Rev. 20: 493-521, 1940. CrossrefGoogle Scholar27. GreepDeane ROHW: The cytology and cytochemistry of the adrenal cortex, Ann. New York Acad. Sc. 50: 596-615, 1949. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar28. DeaneShawGreep HWJHRO: The effect of altered sodium and potassium intake on the width and cytochemistry of the zona glomerulosa of the rat's adrenal cortex, Endocrinology 43: 133-153, 1948. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar29. SelyeStone HH: On the experimental morphology of the adrenal cortex, 1950, Charles C Thomas, Springfield, Illinois. Google Scholar30. MillerRiddle RAO: Cellular response to insulin in suprarenale of pigeons, Proc. Soc. Exper. Biol. and Med. 47: 449-453, 1941. CrossrefGoogle Scholar31. HumeWittenstein DMGJ: The relationship of the hypothalamus to pituitary-adrenocortical function, 1950, Proc. 1st Clinical Conference on ACTH, Chicago, pp. 134-147. Google Scholar32. HarrisDeGroot GWJ: Hypothalamic control of the secretion of adrenocorticotropic hormone, Federation Proc. 9: 57, 1950. Google Scholar33. ChengSayersGoodmanSwinyard CGLSCA: Discharge of adrenocorticotropic hormone from transplanted pituitary tissue, Am. J. Physiol. 159: 426-432, 1949. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar34. FortierSelye CH: Adrenocorticotropic effect of stress after severance of the hypothalamo-hypophyseal pathways, Am. J. Physiol. 159: 433-439, 1949. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar35. Long CN: Factors regulating adrenal cortical secretion, Symposium on Pituitary-Adrenal Function, AAAS, 1951, The Horn-Shafer Company, Baltimore, pp. 24-30. Google Scholar36. McDermottFryBrobeckLong WVEGJRC: Release of adrenocorticotropic hormone by direct application of epinephrine to pituitary grafts, Proc. Soc. Exper. Biol. and Med. 73: 609-610, 1950. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar37. Sayers G: Transactions of the Second Conference on the Adrenal Cortex, Josiah Macy, Jr. Foundation, New York. In press. Google Scholar38. IngleHiggins DJGM: Regeneration of the adrenal gland following enucleation, Am. J. M. Sc. 196: 232-239, 1938. CrossrefGoogle Scholar39. IngleNezamis DJJE: Work performance of adrenally insufficient rats given adrenal cortex extract by continuous intravenous injection, Am. J. Physiol. 156: 365-367, 1949. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar40. Gordon ES: Adrenal stimulation by intravenous ACTH, Proc. Central Soc. Clin. Research 23: 39, 1950. Google Scholar41. QueridoKassenaarGoslingsHymans AAJW: Relative effectiveness of ACTH given by a single, divided and continuous injection, Acta Endocrinologica 6: 90-96, 1951. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar42. Ingle DJ: The relationship of the diabetogenic effect of diethylstilbestrol to the adrenal cortex in the rat, Am. J. Physiol. 138: 577-582, 1943. CrossrefGoogle Scholar43. Ingle DJ: The diabetogenic effect of diethylstilbestrol in adrenalectomized hypo-physectomized-partially depancreatized rats, Endocrinology 34: 361-369, 1944. CrossrefGoogle Scholar44. IngleBaker DJBL: The inhibition of hair growth by estrogens as related to adrenal cortical function in the male rat, Endocrinology 48: 764-771, 1951. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar45. IngleWardKuizenga DJEOMH: The relationship of the adrenal glands to changes in urinary non-protein nitrogen following multiple fractures in the forcefed rat, Am. J. Physiol. 149: 510-515, 1947. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar46. IngleNezamis DJJE: Effect of stress upon glycosuria of force-fed depancreatized and of adrenalectomized-depancreatized rats, Am. J. Physiol. 162: 1-4, 1950. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar47. Grollman A: The adrenals, 1936, The Williams and Wilkins Company, Baltimore. Google Scholar48. Gordon ES: The adrenal cortex in diabetes mellitus. Symposium on Pituitary-Adrenal Function, AAAS, 1951, The Horn-Shafer Company, Baltimore, pp. 193-201. Google Scholar49. White A: Effects of adrenal steroids on blood cells and on certain aspects of protein metabolism. Symposium on Steroid Hormones, 1950, University of Wisconsin Press, Madison, pp. 195-211. Google Scholar50. Sayers G: The adrenal cortex and homeostasis, Physiol. Rev. 30: 241-320, 1950. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar This content is PDF only. To continue reading please click on the PDF icon. Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAffiliations: Kalamazoo, Michigan*Presented at the Thirty-second Annual Session of the American College of Physicians, St. Louis, Mo., April 11, 1951.From the Research Laboratories, The Upjohn Company, Kalamazoo, Michigan. PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Metrics Cited byThe transplanted adrenal glandMetabolism and toxicity of xenobiotics in the adrenal cortex, with particular reference to 7,12-dimethylbenz(a) anthracenePro-opiocortin: The mutiple adrenal hormone precursorRole of Trophic Hormones in Regulation of Growth and Function of Responsive CellsTHE NEURAL REGULATION OF COMPENSATORY ADRENAL GROWTHInhibitors of adrenal cortical functionInhibitors of adrenal cortical functionProduction and Prevention of Two Distinctive Kinds of Destruction of Adrenal CortexPhysiology of the kidneyDie kindlichen Nebennieren und ihre PathologieAdrenocortical insufficiencyDie Entleerungsstörungen der BlaseDie Wirkungsweise von pyrogenen und bakteriellen EndotoxinenDie Bedeutung der vegetativen Zentren und des sympathischen Nervensystems für die Fieber- und Leukocytenreaktion nach bakteriellen PyrogenenTHE LABILITY OF BONE MINERAL*Paper: Malnutrition and the pathogenesis of diseaseAdrenocortical Pathway of Lobeline Protection in Some Forms of Experimental Lung Edema of the RatNebennierenSome effects of exogenous hydrocortisone on pregnancy in the ratRHEUMATISM AND ARTHRITIS REVIEW OF AMERICAN AND ENGLISH LITERATURE OF RECENT YEARS (ELEVENTH RHEUMATISM REVIEW)* Part IIWILLIAM D. ROBINSON, M.D., F.A.C.P., JOSEPH J. BUNIM, M.D., F.A.C.P., WILLIAM S. CLARK, M.D., DARRELL C. CRAIN, M.D., F.A.C.P., EPHRAIM P. ENGLEMAN, M.D., F.A.C.P., DONALD C. GRAHAM, M.D., F.R.C.P. (C), MAX M. MONTGOMERY, M.D., F.A.C.P., BERNARD M. NORCROSS, M.D., F.A.C.P., CHARLES RAGAN, M.D., F.A.C.P., MARIAN W. ROPES, M.D., F.A.C.P., EDWARD F. ROSENBERG, M.D., F.A.C.P., CHARLEY J. SMYTH, M.D., F.A.C.P.Experimentelle Untersuchungen �ber die hormonale Beeinflussung toxisch-infekti�ser GewebsreaktionenHormonally induced ?mammary hairs? of a primitive rodentAplodontia rufaNebenniere und Hyphophyse der Ratte nach mehrmonatiger Zufuhr niedriger Dosen von ACTHPathologische Anatomie und Physiologie der hypophysär-hypothalamischen KrankheitenÜber die Morphologie der Nebenniere von Ratten bei TransplantationstumorenDas Reaktionsvermögen nebennierenloser bzw. hypophysenloser RattenPharmacologic Aspects of Adrenocortical Steroids and ACTH in ManEffects of Aspirin, Aminopyrine, and HPC upon Glycosuria in the Diabetic RatTHE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE METABOLIC CHANGES DURING SHOCK 1 September 1951Volume 35, Issue 3Page: 652-672KeywordsAdrenal cortexAdrenocorticotropic hormoneAtrophyClinical laboratoriesProlactinResearch laboratories ePublished: 1 December 2008 Issue Published: 1 September 1951 PDF downloadLoading ...