Interrelationships of pituitary and plasma corticotrophin and plasma corticosterone during adrenocortical regeneration in the rat.

Pituitary and plasma ACTH and plasma corticosterone were measured at various times after adrenal enucleation or adrenalectomy. The changes in ACTH could be inversely correlated with those in plasma corticosterone. They could also be prevented by maintenance therapy with the steroid. The results indicate that the corticosteroids control both the release and the synthesis of ACTH but that their effect is predominantly on the release of the hormone.