Effect of 4-cholesten-3-one on steroidogenesis and morphology of rat adrenal cortex.

The production of corticosteroids from endogenous precursors was decreased in adrenal glands of male rats fed a diet containing one per cent of 4-cholesten-3-one for 3 and 7 days. In contrast, the conversion of labelled progesterone into corticosteroids was only slightly affected as shown by the increased aldosterone to 18-hydroxydeoxycorticosterone ratio. Morphological method revealed lipoid adrenal hyperplasia developing progressively during the observation period. In the adrenal gland, the content of 4-cholesten-3-one rose slightly and, as shown in the experiment with labelled 4-cholesten-3-one, it can serve only as a weakly effective precursor of corticosteroid biosynthesis. Cholesterol content in the adrenals decreased and lipoid hyperplasia could not be explained therefore by cholesterol accumulation.