Abstract
During the last 3 years an intensive study of the functional significance of the suprarenal cortex has been carried on in this laboratory by the writer and his students. The present report is concerned with changes which occur in certain blood constituents following adrenal removal in cats.
It is well known that unilateral epinephrectomy is without demonstrable effect upon cats, hence animals subjected to such an operation were employed as controls. An interval of 5 to 7 days was allowed to lapse before the remaining adrenal was removed. Animals so treated generally survived loss of both adrenals for about 60 hours if untreated.
Phosphorus: The serum phosphorus shows a striking and consistent rise, following bilateral adrenal removal. The increase is considerable, especially when the animal is in the pre-coma or coma stage. Values as high as 15 to 16.5 mgm. per 100 cc. are not uncommon. The accumulation of phosphorus occurs simultaneously with the development of serious symptoms. Animals presenting slight symptoms do not show significant rises in phosphorus. The increase in serum phosphorus is apparently not due to increased blood concentration.
Calcium and Sodium: The results of repeated analyses are not of any significance. In general the calcium rises slightly and the sodium falls to about the same degree as that following bilateral epinephrectomy.
Non-protein nitrogen: The non-protein nitrogen always shows a sharp rise following adrenal removal, and occasionally the increase is very great. The average value for non-protein nitrogen, in unilateral operated cats, is between 42 to 47 mgm. per 100 cc., whereas, the average amount found in the blood of the double operated animals, presenting marked symptoms, is about 91 mgm. The non-protein nitrogen is highest when the animal is in or verging on coma.
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