Abstract
Summary
Sprague Dawley rats were adrenalectomized (Adx) and then eviscerated (Evs) 4 days later. Various surgical procedures were used during the evisceration to preserve or eliminate liver and/or kidney function. Non-Adx Evs rats were used as controls for each group. Abdominal aortic blood was used to measure: blood glucose (BG), urea nitrogen (BUN) and ketone bodies (KB) as well as plasma free fatty acids (FFA) and amino nitrogen (AN), 3-72 hr after evisceration. All eviscerated rats lack insulin and with the liver in situ can maintain a hyperglycemia if the adrenals are present. Adx Evs rats do not develop this diabetic pattern. Furthermore, non Adx rats without a functional liver can sustain 80% of normal BG if the kidneys are in situ but Adx Evs rats require the liver as well. In the abence of the kidneys, protein metabolites are accumulated in the blood in both Adx and non Adx Evs animals.
FFA elevations occur in the Adx-Evs animal but are markedly lower than in the non-Adx preparation. The absence of insulin partially overrides the effect of Adx on this parameter.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.