Abstract
The outstanding symptom in adrenal insufficiency is asthenia. It has been shown experimentally by Gans and Miley, 1 who used a nerve muscle preparation, that only 1/16th of the work done in normal rats could be performed in adrenalectomized rats. They did not show whether the seat of this fatigue was in the myoneural junction or in the muscle itself. Certain clinical observations which we have made recently indicate that the nervous system, even the higher centers, may be involved in the fatigue of adrenal insufficiency.
In the present investigation, we have studied the effect of cortin on the reflex as well as the peripheral structures. Albino rats of the same strain were adrenalectomized and kept under identical conditions. These were divided into 2 series and matched according to weight and sex. The first series was injected twice daily with 1/2 cc. of cortical extract (40 gm. per cc), while the other series was injected at the same times with the same volumes of isotonic saline. Beginning 2 days after operation the resistance to fatigue was compared with animals from the 2 series. Amytal was used for anesthesia. The spinal cord was cut just below the diaphragm. Electrodes were placed in contact with the central portion of the sciatic nerve on the right side after it had been dissected free and cut. A second pair of electrodes was placed in contact with the sciatic on the left side. The tendon of the left gastrocnemius was attached to a muscle lever fastened to a scale pan which was after-loaded with a 100 gm. weight. This muscle was prepared for direct stimulation by wires fastened to the tendon and to the origin of the muscle.
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