Abstract
Our investigation arises from the supposed relation of the adrenal glands to the etiology and pathology of diabetes and of hypertension. This report concerns the probable interrelated functions of the adrenals and the hypophysis, in relation to these conditions.
Anatomic changes have been found in the adrenals after hypo-physectomy and in the hypophysis after adrenalectomy. The adrenal cortex undergoes marked atrophy following hypophysectomy although the medulla shares but little, if at all, in this change. Extracts of the posterior lobe of the hypophysis have been reported to be capable of inducing hyperplasia of the adrenal cortex. 1 An interrenalotropic principle, capable of affecting the adrenal cortex, has been obtained from the anterior lobe of the hypophysis and an adrenotropic action of hypophyseal extracts, affecting the medulla, has also been reported. It has been claimed 2 and also denied 3 , 4 that the hypertensive action of posterior pituitary extract depends upon free circulation of blood from the adrenals.
If an adrenal medullotropic function is performed by the hypophysis, it seems probable that hypophysectomy would result in a diminished rate of liberation of epinephrine from the adrenal glands. It might also be expected to affect the production or storage of epinephrine in the adrenals, as a result of loss of the hypophyseal adreno-medullotropic hormone. Houssay and Mazzocco 5 found an increase in the epinephrine content per gram of adrenal, in hypo-physectomized dogs. However, they point out that the increase is not absolute since it corresponds with the diminution of adrenal weight.
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