Metyrapone, a corticoid inhibitor, induces inverse changes in pineal and adrenal karyomorphology, dynamics and function in mice (Mus musculus)

Abstract

The relationship between pineal and adrenocortical cell morphology, dynamics and function awaits in depth investigation in mammals. In particular, any studies relating these two glands in response to potent adrenocorticoid inhibitor inducing changes in their functional and hormonal relationship appear to be absent. In our present study, we have attempted to investigate the pineal gland and adrenocortical responsiveness from combined morphological and associated hormonal studies. The present experiment utilized postpubertal male mice to study such an interrelationship. Our results reveal that metyrapone, a potent corticoid blocker, at a dose of 50 mg / 100 g body weight, for ten consecutive days induced significant stimulatory changes of the pineal cytomorphology, hypertrophy and hyperplasia, whereas, simultaneously there has been a suppression of adrenal cell morphology and function along with a decreased adrenal corticosterone content (control 0.24±0.08µg/g adrenal tissue vs. metyrapone 0.10±0.01 µg/g adrenal tissue). It may be surmised from the present investigation that corticoid inhibitor, metyrapone simultaneously causes inverse changes in pineal and adrenal function in postpubertal male mice.