Effects of chloroquine on the adrenocortical function. II. Histological, histochemical and biochemical changes in the suprarenal gland of rats on long-term administration of chloroquine.

White female Wistar rats were used in order to study the influence of long-term oral application of 7-chloro-4-(4-diethylamino-1-methylbutylamino) quinoline (chloroquine) in doses of 30, 40 and 80 mg of base/kg upon the suprarenal gland. Histological, histochemical and biochemical findings give evidence of adrenocortical activation induced by chloroquine at all dose levels tested. The differences between the signs of adrenocortical activation as observed after the various doses were only those of quantity and time onset. The results indicate that the stimulation of the suprarenal cortex produced by repeated administration of chloroquine is not solely a manifestation of toxic action of chloroquine.