ABSTRACT
One of the effects of physical or psychic stress is the release of epinephrine and norepinephrine from the adrenal medulla, and another is an increased secretion of adrenal cortical hormones, mediated by the release of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) from the pituitary. The pituitary ascorbic acid content and concentration had fallen after 24 hr, but rose almost too normal by 10 d and had risen to a level 60% above normal on day 28. The greater pituitary adrenocorticoptrophic activity produced by this larger dose of histamine could be blocked by 100 micrograms of 17-hydroxycorticosterone. In animals treated with 1.0 mg of histamine, a dose of 1.0 mg of 17-hydroxy corticosterone resulted in only partial suppression of pituitary activity. It is odd that ACTH deficiency and ACTH administration both cause adrenal ascorbic acid depletion; perhaps adrenal corticosteroids are needed to promote ascorbic acid storage by reducing dehydroascorbic acid (DHAA) to AA.
