EFFECTS OF o,p' DDD1ON HISTOLOGY AND 17- HYDROXYCORTICOSTEROID OUTPUT OF THE DOG ADRENAL CORTEX1

In dogs receiving oral treatment with 2,2-bis (2-chlorophenyl-4-chlorophenyl)- l,l-dichloroethane (o,p' DDD) for periods of 2, 4, and 6 days, the secretion rate of 17-hydroxycorticosteroids was markedly decreased. Histological observations on the adrenal cortex showed that focal degenerative lesions developed first in the zona reticularis, then in the zona fasciculata. No changes were seen in the zona glomerulosa even after 6 days treatment. Morphological changes in the zona reticularis and zona fasciculata were slight after 2 days treatment although there was alreacty a marked reduction in the digitoninprecipitable compounds of these zones. After 6 days treatment, 3β-hydroxy sterols were almost absent from the zona fasciculata and zona reticularis. Distribution of sudanophilic lipids of these zones remained unaltered during this period.