Effect of hydrocortisone acetate on interrenal cells in the normal and hypophysectomized catfish, Heteropneustes fossilis, (Bloch).

The interrenal gland of the Heteropneustes fossilis occupies three fourth area of the kidney and shows two types of cells histologically. The cells are arranged as cortical strands. Hypophysectomy resulted in regressive changes in the interrenal gland, as seen from the significant reduction in the nuclear diameter within fifteen days. A single injection of hydrocortisone brought about further reduction in the size of interrenal cell and the nuclear diameter in the hypophysectomized animals, but not in the intact fish. It is concluded that the amount of hydrocortisone added was sufficient to cause reduced functioning of the interrenal gland in the absence of ACTH.