Effect of Electroconvulsive Shock on Adrenal Cortex of the Rat ∗

Summary

Hypertrophy of the rats adrenal glands has been shown to follow a series of electroconvulsive shocks administered under conditions known to disturb behavior. The adrenal enlargement was avoided by administering the series of shocks during anesthesia of the rat, a circumstance known to inhibit the behavioral disturbances following a series of electroconvulsive shocks. The coincident changes in adrenal size and in behavior suggest that the endocrine changes may mediate the effects of electroconvulsive shocks on the behavior of the rat.