Abstract
Summary
In order to investigate the mechanism of the previously observed enhancement of the adrenal response to ACTH following the administration of glucose, this response was studied in hypophysectomized animals under conditions of adrenaline hyperglycemia and insulin-induced hypoglycemia. Determinations were made of blood-sugar, plasma ascorbic acid, liver glycogen, adrenal cholesterol and ascorbic acid.
1. The blood sugar changes resulting from adrenaline or insulin administration were not influenced by ACTH. 2. A marked fall in plasma ascorbic acid concentration resulted from the administration of adrenaline and insulin either alone or in association with ACTH. 3. Neither adrenaline nor insulin modified the response to ACTH of liver glycogen and of adrenal cholesterol and ascorbic acid. 4. The effects of alimentary hyperglycemia are therefore attributed to an increase in the total store of carbohydrates or to an excess production of intermediary metabolites, which conditions are not duplicated by adrenaline.
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