Note on the effect of the internal secretions upon the secretion of epinephrin

Abstract

One 2 of us was the first to show that the adrenal secretion relaxed and inhibited the rhythmic contractions of the intestine. Hoskins has shown that a dilution of 1-400 millions of epinephrin inhibits the rhythmic contractions. It thus becomes the most sensitive test for the presence of epinephrin. We tested its presence by the Magnus method. We injected a few grains of the filtered solution of the different glands into the jugular of the narcotized cat, and drew off, as Cannon has done, some blood from the vena cava above the openings of the adrenal veins, and defibrinated it. Normal blood defibrinated was then applied to a segment of the intestine of a narcotized rabbit and its rhythmic movements recorded. Then the blood, after the injection of the glandular filtrate, was applied to the same intestine and its movements registered. It was found that the injection of iodothyrin, parathyroid, infundibulin, thymus and pineal caused a distinct fall in tonus and inhibition of rhythmic contractions, showing the presence of epinephrin beyond normal in the blood. Normal blood of the cat never produces this effect, but stimulates tonus and rhythmic contraction. We have been careful to exclude albumen in these glandular tests, as the foreign albumen in the antithyroid serum of Möbius and in the diphtheritic antitoxic serum in 2 drop doses increases the amount of epinephrin in the blood. As cholin also produces an epinephrin reaction we can only be certain that iodothyrin and infundibulin stimulate the adrenals.