[Histochemical and morphometric changes in the adrenal cortex under conditions of acute vascular insufficiency]

Morphofunctional changes in the adrenal glands of 50 male cats under experimental vascular insufficiency were studied by means of morphometric, histochemical, and biochemical methods, with a preliminary investigation of the histoenzymatological profile of the adrenal glands in intact animals. A decrease in the adrenal function was revealed five hours after induced hypotony resulting from intravenous injection of arfonade. Adrenal insufficiency, particularly that of the glucocorticosteroid function, under conditions of developing vascular failure can be considered as a peculiar adaptation of the organism to preserve its viability.