Biomaterial Database

[Sex dimorphism of adrenal cortex of the Syrian golden hamster following gonadectomy (author's transl)]. 1980

G Zieger, and H Breuner, and B Kubatsch

Earlier studies showed a sex dimorphism of the adrenal cortex of the hamster developing during puberty. Morphologically, this is most evident in the zone reticularis. The male has larger reticular cells than the female, 60 pairs of siblings were castrated around the 10th day of life; 6 males and females were sacrificed at weekly intervals between the 3rd and 12th week of life. 60 pairs of uncastrated siblings served as control. Till the 10th week of life the body and adrenal weight of the castrated males agree with those of the castrated females. From the 11th week onwards the males have the higher body and adrenal weight. Neither histometrically nor histologically there are differences in the adrenal structure of the 2 castrated sexes. Both groups have small reticular cells. Compared to the uncastrated animal the male castrated hamster has a higher body and a lower adrenal weight, whereas the female castrate shows no significant difference in comparison with the non-castrate of the same age and sex. Thus, the adrenal cortex of the Syrian golden hamster is stimulated by androgen hormone. This result is contrary to the rat adrenal, where changes, caused by gonadectomy, are found in the female, and the female adrenal is stimulated by estrogen.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008297	Male		Males
D009929	Organ Size	The measurement of an organ in volume, mass, or heaviness.	Organ Volume,Organ Weight,Size, Organ,Weight, Organ
D001835	Body Weight	The mass or quantity of heaviness of an individual. It is expressed by units of pounds or kilograms.	Body Weights,Weight, Body,Weights, Body
D002369	Castration	Surgical removal or artificial destruction of gonads.	Gonadectomy,Castrations,Gonadectomies
D004967	Estrogens	Compounds that interact with ESTROGEN RECEPTORS in target tissues to bring about the effects similar to those of ESTRADIOL. Estrogens stimulate the female reproductive organs, and the development of secondary female SEX CHARACTERISTICS. Estrogenic chemicals include natural, synthetic, steroidal, or non-steroidal compounds.	Estrogen,Estrogen Effect,Estrogen Effects,Estrogen Receptor Agonists,Estrogenic Agents,Estrogenic Compounds,Estrogenic Effect,Estrogenic Effects,Agents, Estrogenic,Agonists, Estrogen Receptor,Compounds, Estrogenic,Effects, Estrogen,Effects, Estrogenic,Receptor Agonists, Estrogen
D005260	Female		Females
D006224	Cricetinae	A subfamily in the family MURIDAE, comprising the hamsters. Four of the more common genera are Cricetus, CRICETULUS; MESOCRICETUS; and PHODOPUS.	Cricetus,Hamsters,Hamster
D000302	Adrenal Cortex	The outer layer of the adrenal gland. It is derived from MESODERM and comprised of three zones (outer ZONA GLOMERULOSA, middle ZONA FASCICULATA, and inner ZONA RETICULARIS) with each producing various steroids preferentially, such as ALDOSTERONE; HYDROCORTISONE; DEHYDROEPIANDROSTERONE; and ANDROSTENEDIONE. Adrenal cortex function is regulated by pituitary ADRENOCORTICOTROPIN.	Cortex, Adrenal
D000305	Adrenal Cortex Hormones	HORMONES produced by the ADRENAL CORTEX, including both steroid and peptide hormones. The major hormones produced are HYDROCORTISONE and ALDOSTERONE.	Adrenal Cortex Hormone,Corticoid,Corticoids,Corticosteroid,Corticosteroids,Cortex Hormone, Adrenal,Hormone, Adrenal Cortex,Hormones, Adrenal Cortex
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia