Pentylenetetrazol effect on adrenocortical maturation in the rat.

The effect of pentylenetetrazol on adrenal cortex maturation was investigated. Two different groups of weanling Sprague-Dawley female rats were used. At the ages of 23 and 29 days, the animals were treated with pentylenetetrazol (10 mg/kg) for 3 days. Results indicated that pentylenetetrazol decreased plasma corticosterone levels of both age groups. This treatment abolished the corticosterone diurnal variation of the 23-day-old rats, but not that of the 29-day-old rats. An increase in uterine weight was also observed in the pentylenetetrazol-treated animals. Results from this study suggest that CNS stimulation with pentylenetetrazol can alter the adrenal cortex maturation.