Corticosterone-responsive and -unresponsive metabolic characteristics of adrenalectomized rats

Experiments for measuring alterations in energy expenditure (EE) and respiratory quotient (RQ) of corticosterone (cort) dose-treated adrenalectomy (ADX) rats to characterize their corticosterone-resistant and corticosterone-sensitive metabolic properties reveal that cort doses eliminate the inhibition of food intake and body weight by ADX and reinstate ADX-induced decrease in motoric activity to sham levels in rats. EE suppression is seen in both light and dark conditions, but RQ suppression is seen only in dark conditions. Cort replacement partially revives EE to sham levels in light conditions.