Abstract
Summary
The influence of stress upon the response to fludrocortisone was assessed. The steroid caused atrophy of the spleen and thymus and hypertrophy of the heart and kidney, changes which were neither induced nor modified by stress. Body growth was slightly retarded by stress and markedly impaired by fludrocortisone, but the effect of combined treatment was greatest. Although the steroid alone caused adrenal involution, adrenal hypertrophy was found in animals subjected to stress or to stress and steroid treatment together. Mortality was insignificant from steroid alone, but great among animals subjected also to stress. There was some indication that stress enhanced the hypertensive and nephropathic response to steroid treatment, but precise assessment of this effect was rendered difficult by high mortality in the group exposed to dual treatment and the prevalence of emaciation and lowered vitality among survivors.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.