부산대학교 도서관

Urinary levels of formaldehydogenic steroids (FGS) in rats with liver injury induced by carbon tetrachloride showed a tendency to increase in the acute stage of cirrhosis 4 to 8 weeks later and decreased slightly in the chronic stage 17 to 28 weeks later. In the late stage of cirrhosis the response of urinary FGS to ACTH injection was diminished. Rats treated with dimethylaminoazobenzene (to produce hepatomas) excreted large amounts of FGS in the intermediate stage (8 months later) and the response of urinary FGS to ACTH injection was nearly normal. Urinary FGS levels were not decreased in the course of experiment. In rats with liver injury caused by ethionine the urinary FGS level was decreased markedly at the initial stage of the experiment, and the response of urinary FGS to ACTH was barely demonstrable. This suggests that the adrenocortical activity is reduced in rats whose liver is injured by ethionine. Hypothalmic lesions in other rats generally caused a marked decrease of the urinary FGS. In rats exposed to 900-r whole-body x radiation, urinary FGS decreased gradually after the 3rd day, and increased transiently before death. Response of urinary FGS to ACTH in the rats irradiated by 900 r of x rays or Co/sup 60/ gamma rays was somewhat delayed, particularly on the 5th day after exposure. In rats irradiated with 600 r of x rays, no change of urinary FGS excretion was found, and the response of urinary FGS to ACTH was normal. In the rats irradiated by lethal dose (900 r) of gamma rays, prolongation of life was effected by subcutaneous injection of 4 units of ACTH on the 2nd day after exposure. The results suggest an increased demand for adrenocortical hormone shortly after lethal irradiation. (TCO)