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GRANT G. SLATER, SUSAN WYREMBEK, Adrenal Ascorbic Acid, Plasma and Adrenal Corticoid Response to Fasting in Young Rats, Endocrinology, Volume 70, Issue 1, 1 January 1962, Pages 18–23, https://doi.org/10.1210/endo-70-1-18
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Young (80 g) rats anesthetized with Nembutal and unilaterally adrenalectomized after a 3-day fast, failed to show a decrease in the adrenal ascorbic acid (AAA) when tested one hour later. In the experiments reported here, rats, similarly fasted, were studied before and at intervals up to one hour after an acute stress (splenectomy). The AAA, adrenal corticoids (AC), and plasma corticoids (PC) were determined. The following observations were made: As a result of fasting the AC and PC levels were elevated and seemed to be directly proportional to the percent weight loss of the animal. The injection of Nembutal resulted in a marked decrease in AC and PC with no change in AAA concentration. Acute stress caused a decrease in AAA which was inversely proportional to the body weight loss to 30%. In animals which had lost more than 30% of their body weight, no significant decrease in AAA resulting from acute stress could be observed. Acute stress increased the AC approximately three-fold in 15 minutes; the highest levels were observed in the animals which had lost the most weight. Acute stress also increased the PC; however in this instance the animals which lost the most weight showed the least response.—It is is concluded that in fasted rats, when the accumulation of adrenal corticoids which occurs before anesthetization is re-established at its former level by an acute stress, there is no concomitant AAA release. When, however, amounts of AC accumulate over and above its chronic stress level after acute stress, then decreases in AAA occur. Therefore, it is postulated that an increased rate of AC accumulation is necessary before AAA is released.
