The alleged exhaustion of the epinephrin store in the adrenal by emotional disturbance

Abstract

1. It has been stated that a marked diminution in the store of epinephrin in the adrenal gland is associated with various kinds of emotional excitation. Thus Elliott 1 speaks of morphin-“fright” in cats causing exhaustion of a gland whose splanchnic nerve supply is intact, as compared with the other adrenal whose splanchnic supply has been previously severed. We can confirm his statement as to the difference in the content produced under the influence of morphin but we do not think that fright has anything to do with the result since it is also obtained in dogs where there are no signs of fright.

2. The signs of morphin-“fright” can all be elicited by administering morphin to a cat in which one adrenal has been removed and the splanchnic supply of the other cut and in which accordingly no demonstrable liberation of epinephrin through the splanchnics takes place. A cat in this condition behaves identically in the same way as a cat whose adrenal splanchnic supply has been cut on one side but left intact on the other. The pupils are widely dilated and there is the same characteristic restlessness and incessant movement. The content of epinephrin in the remaining adrenal of the first cat is found to be practically the same as that of the adrenal removed before the administration of morphin while the content of the adrenal with intact splanchnic supply in the second cat is definitely diminished.

3. When a cat with the splanchnic supply of one adrenal cut is frightened for many hours by a dog in which also the splanchnic supply of the adrenal has been divided on one side both animals undoubtedly experience emotions of great intensity.