Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Semester of Degree Completion

1973

Thesis Director

Eugene B. Krehbiel

Abstract

The diurnal rhythm of adrenal ascorbic acid (DAR) displays an inverse relationship to the diurnal rhythm of circulating levels of plasma corticosteroids. Alloxan monohydrate, 175 mg/kg body weight was given subcutaneously to albino rats to determine the effect of the diabetic state on the DAR. A total of 200 female albino rats were divided into two study groups. Study Group I was composed of 150 animals divided into populations of 15, each including 3 controls. Study Group II was composed of populations of 5, each group containing all controls or all alloxinated rats. The populations of 15 were sacrificed at 4-hour intervals for 28 hours, and at 48 hours after injection of alloxan. The populations of 5 were sacrificed at 16, 28 and 48 hours post-injection. Blood sugar levels, adrenal weight, body weight, and adrenal ascorbic acid levels were recorded for all animals. At 28 and 48 hours post-injection, disruption of DAR and concommitant adrenal hypertrophy were significant (P<.05), in alloxinated rats over unstressed control rats. Control rats in the populations of 15 were apparently stressed, as indicated by disruption of DAR in the control rats. Adrenal weights of unstressed control rats were 30 mg% of total body weight during the dark phase and 27 mg% during the light phase. Results indicate that advanced diabetes disrupts this rhythm in weight.

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