Stress-induced morphohistochemical and functional changes in rat adrenal cortex, testis and major salivary glands

The effect of repeated stress (1 h of daily immobilization for seven consec utive days) on the adrenal cortex of young adult male albino rats was evalu ated by morphohistochemical methods and plasma assays; at the same time, te stes and major salivary glands, as steroid-producing and -depending organs, respectively, were examined. Morphological and histochemical changes were found in the adrenal cortex, testis and submaxillary gland, though varying in degree and extent depending on the gland examined. Corticosterone and pr ogesterone plasma levels increased, in agreement with the lipid depletion o bserved in the zona fasciculata, while testosterone and androstenedione dec reased, as confirmed by the less marked enzymatic activity in the Leydig ce lls. The study thus proves that repeated stress, even of temporary duration , is able to influence directly or indirectly the morphofunctional state of the three examined glands, suggesting a functional linkage. (C) 1998 Chapm an & Hall.