Abstract
The adrenal cortical hormones may increase the circulating plasma volume in adrenal insufficiency (1) by the control of renal function and (2) by the transfer of water and electrolytes to the blood stream from the tissues. 1 Whether these mechanisms operate by an alteration of capillary permeability is not known. The purpose of this communication is to report data bearing on this point.
The diffusion of dyes from the blood stream was utilized as a means of observing the capacity of desoxycorticosterone to influence the flow of fluids across the capillary membrane. Normal white rabbits were given one intravenous dose of one of .3 different dyes: trypan blue, brom phenol blue or patent blue V.† For each rabbit injected with a definite dose of a given dye, a corresponding white rabbit, which had received desoxycorticosterone acetate‡ parenterally several hours in advance, was observed simultaneously. The rate of appearance of dye in the ears, mucous membranes, conjunctivae and skin of the abdominal wall was noted and compared with the controls.
Obvious delay in the appearance of trypan blue in these areas in animals under the influence of desoxycorticosterone acetate was noted. The difference was marked not only in the time of appearance but in the intensity of staining. Although there is no way of quanti-tating these differences, agreement was uniform as to the reality of the differences to 6 different observers, who rendered judgment without knowing which of the pair had received the hormone.
In the case of brom phenol blue the difference in time and intensity were in the same direction, though less marked.
No such striking difference was noted with patent blue V (and in a few instances with eosin and fluorescin).
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