Regulatory Effect of Adrenal Cortical Extract on Elaboration of Pituitary Adrenotropic Hormone.∗

Summary Administration of cortical extract prevents, the decrease in adrenal ascorbic acid which accompanies exposure to cold but does not prevent the decrease which results from administration of exogenous adrenotropic hormone. Since reduction in adrenal ascorbic acid is initiated by pituitary adrenotropic hormone, cortical extract must act to inhibit elaboration of this tropic hormone by the pituitary. These results have been interpreted to mean that rate of release of adrenotropic hormone from the pituitary is regulated by the concentration of adrenal cortical hormones in the blood and tissues.