Effect of Adrenalectomy on Salt Metabolism in Rats

Abstract

The findings recorded were observed in studies to determine whether the adrenal glands regulated the metabolism of the body salts. White rats weighing between 150 and 180 gm. were used.

Salt balance studies were carried out on 4 pairs of animals before and after complete bilateral adrenalectomy. A control period of 5 to 6 days preceded the removal of the glands. Twenty-four hours after operation when the animals had completely recovered from the surgical shock, the study periods which varied from 6 to 11 days began.

The symptoms of adrenal insufficiency were: Loss of weight, decrease in food and water consumption, gradually progressing inactivity and weakness, and a diminution in the amount of urine and feces excreted. Death in the untreated animals occurred within 10 days after operation. Within 12 to 24 hours of death the respiratory rate increased, the body temperature fell, and there was a roughening of the fur with a rusty pigmentation of the hair about the head. Later, hemorrhages occurred about the nose and from the conjunctivae. Jumpiness and convulsions were noted terminally.

Balance studies were made for Ca, Mg, Na, K, P, CI, and N. Our analyses show that during insufficiency there is not only a loss of sodium and chlorine as has been emphasized by other observers, 1 but a great loss of all elements studied—a negative balance for each of these occurred. The negative balance of N, P, K, Ca, and Mg, shows that tissue destruction has taken place.

Because of this loss from the body of these many basic elements following adrenalectomy, it occurred to us that in the treatment of adrenal insufficiency, one should aim at replacing all of those substances. To this end, after the animal was in marked insufficiency, a solution containing .0329% CaCl₂, .015% MgCl, .7% NaCl, and .0350% KCl, was substituted for the distilled water used in the control periods.

The improvement in the animals following this change was striking. Even if this fluid was not given until within 2 to 3 hours before the time that death would have ordinarily occurred, the animals could be restored to a normal state within 4 to 5 hours after its administration. We have so far kept completely adrenalectomized animals in apparent health for 4 months on this mixture. No evidence of edema has appeared in these animals.