Abstract
Summary
The effect of ACTH on the decrease of serum inorganic phosphorus induced by the administration of glucose and insulin in the normal dog has been studied. Three dogs were given 20 mg of ACTH daily in one injection for 9 days and the other 3 were injected twice a day with 20 mg for 5 days. A significant reduction of the decrease of serum inorganic phosphorus produced by the insulin and dextrose administration was registered 8 days after the end of the treatment and persisted, but not as marked, 28 days after. The defect in the hypoglycemic action of insulin was noticed at the end of the treatment, was more marked 8 days after and almost disappeared 28 days later. The results show that the inhibition of the decrease in serum inorganic phosphorus after the administration of glucose alone(18) that occurs under the influence of ACTH is not due to a deficiency in insulin production. It was possible to observe that the changes of blood sugar tended to appear and disappear sooner than the modifications in inorganic phosphorus which suggest that they are independent in its mechanism although closely related phenomena. It may be that these experiments could be interpreted as an in vivo reduction of the rate of phosphorylization induced by adreno-cortical stimulation.
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