Observations on Life-Span of Epinephrectomized Cats.

Abstract

In a previous communication 1 it was reported that the oral administration of considerable quantities of fluids to bilaterally epinephrectomized cats prolongs life for some days beyond the usual lifespan. Further observations are presented in this report.

I. A series of four adult male cats were bilaterally operated (interval of seven days between operations) and given 50 cc. distilled water three times a day and 50 cc. of milk once daily. The average survival period was 143.8 hours.

II. A second series of cats, consisting of four non-pregnant females and two males, were given intravenous injections of 10 cc. of 7 per cent gum acacia in 10 per cent glucose every forty-eight hours, or at times when marked symptoms of adrenal insufficiency developed. The average survival was 132.8 hours.

III. A third series of seven animals (five non-pregnant females and two males) were treated with 10 cc. of a 5 per cent solution of sodium bicarbonate every forty-eight hours, or at times when marked symptoms of adrenal insufficiency appeared. The average survival period was 132.5 hours.

IV. Series four consisted of three female cats (one in advanced pregnancy, the remainder non-pregnant). The animals were given 10 cc. of a 5 per cent solution of sodium bicarbonate added to a 7 per cent solution of gum acacia in 10 per cent glucose, every fortyeight hours. The average survival period was 172.3 hours.

V. Four aouble-operated cats were kept at an average temperature of 7.4° C. following removal of the second adrenal. Since double operated animals appear to be very sensitive to cold, an experiment was undertaken in which such animals were kept at cool temperature. However, no effect was noted since the average survival period for the group was 126.3 hours.

VI. Four adult animals, consisting of one non-pregnant female and three males, were kept at an average temperature of 30° C. throughout the experiment.