Adrenocortical response in the duck exposed to corticosteroid administration and salt loading

The functional zonation in the adrenocortical tissue of the duck was experimentally investigated after chronic administration of corticosteroids of different types (corticosterone, desoxycorticosterone, dexamethasone) and salt loading (chlorides of sodium and potassium). The cytomorphology of the interrenal cells belonging to subcapsular and central zones was explored by light- and electron microscopy and by biochemical analysis of plasma corticosterone. Corticoid-induced involution of the interrenal tissue, or hyperactivity elicited by salt loading were evident in both subcapsular and central regions of the gland. In the duck the adrenocortical tissue appears to be devoid of steroidogenic functional differentiation. The modifications of different cellular organelles and inclusions can be explained in the light of known concepts about corticosteroid metabolism. The depression of plasma corticosterone titre in corticosteroid-treated animals agrees with the image of cytological inhibition. The lowered corticosterone value in KCl-loaded ducks signifies increased peripheral metabolism of this hormone. The hypercorticosteronemia in NaCl-loaded ducks is probably related to activation of the nasal gland under osmotic stress.