The effects of adrenalectomy on the adenylate cyclase--adenosine 3':5'-cyclic monophosphate (cyclic AMP) system of rat renal medulla were examined to evaluate the mechanism of the impaired water diuresis in glucocorticoid deficiency. 2. Concentrations of cyclic AMP in medullary tubules from adrenalectomized rats were significantly higher than in the tubules from control animals both in the presence and absence of antidiuretic hormone. 3. This abnormality was corrected by the treatment in vivo of the adrenalectomized rats with dexamethasone, but addition of this drug to the incubation medium did not abolish the differences in cyclic AMP between tubules from adrenalectomized and normal rats. 4. The activity of adenylate cyclase or cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase in vitro was not affected by adrenalectomy. 5. In glucocorticoid deficiency, the concentration of cyclic AMP in medullary tubules is increased both with and without antidiuretic hormone. This abnormality may render medullary tubules more permeable to water and may underlie the impaired water diuresis in glucocorticoid deficiency.
