The Hormone of the Adrenal Cortex.

Abstract

We have previously 1 demonstrated that an extract which will definitely prolong the lives and ameliorate the symptoms of adrenal-ectomized cats can be made from the adrenal cortex.

We have proposed the name of cortin 2 for this hormone, which is essential to life.

Heat (80°C. for 5 minutes) destroys it. It is lost upon repeated precipitation with NaCl. Therefore some other method of concentration must be employed.

An extract of any desired concentration can be obtained by extracting the cortex with ethyl ether. After removing the ether in vacuo the residue is extracted with warm 80% alcohol. Chilling precipitates much inactive material. Removal of the alcohol in vacuo is followed by extraction of the residue with water to make the desired concentration, or extraction by alcohol is repeated for further purification.

Completely adrenalectomized cats treated with this extract not only live indefinitely in good condition but are able to meet unusual demands apparently as well as normal animals. They undergo major operations. Wounds heal promptly. They seem to resist infections to which untreated adrenalectomized cats often succumb. One cat had an abortion following the removal of the second adrenal and bled for several days afterward. Yet, by the use of this extract she recovered. Another cat was etherized and thoroughly explored for accessory adrenals 136 days after the removal of the second adrenal, with recovery as prompt as would be expected in a normal cat.

If adrenalectomized cats are given more extract than is necessary to keep them in fair condition they eat more and gain in weight. Blood urea remains within the normal range.

One adrenalectomized cat has been rescued from the final stage of prostration due to an inadequate supply of cortin 3 times by injection of extract.