The effect of stress on the concentration of 3beta-hydroxypregn-5-en-20-one (pregnenolone) and pregn-4-ene-3,20-dione (progesterone) in the adrenal gland of the rat

1. Pregnenolone and progesterone were estimated in extracts from adrenal glands of rats by gas-liquid chromatography.2. In unstressed rats their concentrations were found to be smaller than that of corticosterone.3. Acute stress caused an increase in the concentrations of these steroids which paralleled that of corticosterone.