EFFECT OF CORTICOTROPHIN ON CORTISOL SECRETION IN CASTRATED RHESUS MONKEYS

Wisconsin Regional Primate Research Center, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, U.S.A. (Received 22 May 1978) In a wide variety of species corticotrophin (ACTH) is known to stimulate the synthesis and secretion of adrenocortical steroids. Studies with rhesus monkeys have shown that these responses can be affected by a number of factors including the method of handling and the type of physical restraint (Mason, 1959). In addition, androgens may depress plasma levels of glucocorticoids in primates (Brown & Migeon, 1956; Huis in't Veld, Louwerens & van den Spek, 1960). It was therefore decided to study the response of plasma cortisol to ACTH without these neural or hormonal influences. This report describes the effects of ACTH on castrated rhesus monkeys adapted to chronic restraint. Four chair-restrained, orchidectomized rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta) bearing chronic indwelling venous catheters were used as experimental subjects and were housed, maintained and subjected to blood sampling as