Effect of peripheral cholinergic activation on the adrenal cortex function.

The adrenocortical response to cholinergic agonist and antagonist agents were investigated in intact, hypophysectomized and medullectomized rats. The administration of peripherally active compound neostigmine, was found to cause a significant rise of corticosterone in the intact, and the hypophysectomized animals but not in the medullectomized animals. Meanwhile, the centrally and peripherally active cholinergic agent physostigmine caused a significant rise in the intact, hypophysectomized and medullectomized animals. The results also show that the administration of the ganglionic blocker (e.g. tetraethylammonium or hexamethonium), the muscarinic agonist (pilocarpin) or the muscarinic antagonist (atropin) did not result in any significant changes in corticosterone levels. The results of these experiments might indicate that peripheral cholinergic pathway is involved in the regulation of the adrenal cortex function.