Inverse ‘Conditioning’ by Hypophysectomy of Mineralocorticoid and Glucocorticoid Activities of 9[]-Chlorocortisol

¹ From the Institut de Médecine et de Chirurgie expérimentales, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Canada

9[]-chlorocortisol acetate [Cl-COL-Ac] induced a syndrome of hyalinosis (nephrosclerosis, myocarditis, polyuria, edema, etc.) in rats conditioned for mineralocorticoid overdosage by unilateral nephrectomy and NaCl supplements. Hypophysectomy protected the animals against the development by Cl-COL-Ac of this syndrome, but, at the same time, predisposed them to the production of severe necrotizing pulmonary lesions. Apparently, the absence of the hypophysis can simultaneously condition tissue responses, positively to some, and negatively to other actions of the same corticoid molecule.