Comparison of external loss of sodium with loss from sucrose space in adrenalectomized rats

Using 1-hour sucrose space in rats as a measure of extracellular fluid (ECF) volume, net loss of Na from ECF is found to agree closely with external loss (balance data) 6 days after adrenalectomy. No significant exchange of Na between ECF and intact cells is evident following adrenalectomy. Fair correspondence of net loss of Na from ECF with external loss was also seen in normal rats mildly depleted of Na by 6 days on an essentially Na-free diet. Sucrose space (ml/kg final weight) is 225 ± 12 in normal rats, 197 ± 13 in adrenalectomized, and 209 ± 9 in normal rats after 6 days on an essentially Na-free diet. Evidence is presented that sucrose space measure a reproducible ECF compartment in normal, adrenalectomized and salt-depleted rats.

Studies on Streptococcus pyogenes. IV. Effect of whole cells, M and C antigens, and other components of the cell on adrenalectomized rats

Heat-killed cells of Group A streptococci caused death of the adrenalectomized rat. While the adrenalectomized rat readily succumbed to intraperitoneal infection with living cells, death was due primarily to toxicity. The normal rat was highly resistant under either condition. For studies on the toxic materials, the cells of numerous serological types of group A streptococci, and of a Group B and a Group D streptococcus, were extracted with 0.1 N HCl at 100°C. or by sonic oscillation. The extracts, containing macromolecular components, were subjected to chemical fractionation and purification. C substance and M protein of Group A streptococci released from the cell by sonic oscillation were toxic to the adrenalectomized rat in quantities of 1 mg./100 gm. rat. Death usually occurred within 2 hours. On the other hand, C substance and M protein released from the cell with HCl at 100°C. were relatively non-toxic to the adrenalectomized rat. The sonic-extracted C substance of streptococcal Groups B, C, and D was also toxic. The toxic property of the C and M preparations was neutralized in vitro in each case by group and type-specific rabbit antiserum. Heterologous antiserum was without effect. Adrenalectomized rats which received homologous antiserum 18 hours before challenge were also resistant to the toxicity of the C and M preparations. Trypsin destroyed the toxic effect of the M protein preparations and was without effect on the toxicity of the C substance. The R antigen and a nucleoprotein component of Group A streptococci, preparations of protein from Groups B and D streptococci, and coagulase from Staphylococcus aureus were all found to be essentially non-toxicic for the adrenalectomized rat. Large quantities of peptone, crystalline albumin, and rabbit serum were also without effect.

Plasma adrenaline and noradrenaline after phenoxybenzamine administration, and during haemorrhagic hypotension, in normal and adrenalectomized dogs

The intravenous administration of the antiadrenaline drug phenoxybenzamine (Dibenzyline) markedly raised the arterial adrenaline and noradrenaline concentration in dogs lightly anaesthetized with thiopentone. Graded haemorrhage led to a further rise in the amounts of amine. In adrenalectomized dogs, phenoxybenzamine moderately increased the plasma noradrenaline concentration. During haemorrhagic hypotension, previous treatment of adrenalectomized animals with phenoxybenzamine led to a significantly greater rise in plasma noradrenaline compared with that of adrenalectomized animals subjected to haemorrhage without treatment with phenoxybenzamine. Thus, phenoxybenzamine (1) raised plasma amine concentration largely due to adrenal medullary stimulation, and (2) led to increased plasma noradrenaline concentrations during sympathetic stimulation in adrenalectomized animals. The previous administration of phenoxybenzamine reduced the amount of blood which could be withdrawn before final circulatory collapse in both normal and adrenalectomized dogs.

The adrenal gland and the cardiovascular changes in acute anoxic anoxia in dogs

The hyperkinetic circulatory state observed in intact anesthetized dogs at the end of a 15 minute period of breathing 6 per cent oxygen in nitrogen was absent in a similar series of dogs acutely adrenalectomized by the ligation technie. Blood removed from intact animals at the end of the anoxic period and infused into normal assay dogs produced a rise in cardiac output in the latter which was not observed with comparable infusions of normal blood or blood removed from adrenalectomized anoxic dogs. The transferable agent demonstrated by this study is considered responsible for the rise in cardiac output in the anoxic donor. It is suggested that this agent arises from the adrenal medulla.