The effect of sarcoma 180 and other stressing agents upon adrenal adenine nucleotide-metabolizing enzymes.

The effects of Sarcoma 180, heterologous tissue implantation, and turpent ine treatment upon adrenal and liver adenine nueleotide-metabolizing enzymes were~ investigated. Adrenal 5'-nueleotidase act ivi ty was elevated significantly by progressive S-180 growth. No definite alteration in adrenal 5'-nueleotidase act ivi ty was induced by heterologous tissue implantation. Turpent ine t rea tment depressed adrenal 5'-nucleotidase act ivi ty. Liver 5'-nueleotidase act ivi ty was elevated by tumor growth but not altered by the other stresses studied. Sarcoma 180 caused a consistent increase in adrenal ATPase act ivi ty as compared with the daily control values. Heterologous tissue implantat ion and turpentineinduced stress did not affect adrenal ATPase levels. Liver ATPase act ivi ty was not significantly altered by any of the experimental conditions. A C T H t rea tment caused an increase in adrenal 5'-nucleotidase aetivity, correlating with the increased plasma eortieosterone levels measured. A C T t t t rea tment caused an initial decrease in ATPase activity, with subsequent elevation of enzyme act ivi ty after 6 days of t reatment . The relationship of these enzymes to adrenal function and the differences in response to various stress conditions are diseussed.