ANTAGONISM OF ADRENOCORTICOTROPHIC HORMONE AND ADRENAL CORTICAL EXTRACT TO DESOXYCORTICOSTERONE: ELECTROLYTES AND ELECTROSHOCK THRESHOLD

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Abstract
DCA elevated the electroshock seizure threshold in rats. ACTH produced a slight but barely significant rise in seizure threshold, and ACE had no effect on this index of excitability of the central nervous system. The admn. of ACTH or ACE restored to normal the elevated electroshock threshold in DCA-treated intact rats; ACTH had no effect on the increased seizure threshold in DCA-treated adrenalectomized rats. DCA increased plasma Na concn. and decreased plasma K, chloride and Mg concns.; DCA had no effect on plasma calcium, ACTH caused a barely significant rise in plasma Na concn. and had no effect on plasma K. ACE had no effect on plasma Na or K concn. ACTH restored to normal the elevated plasma Na and the reduced plasma Mg concn. in DCA-treated rats; it partially restored to normal the low concn. of plasma chloride in DCA-treated rats. However, ACTH did not influence the hypokalemia induced by DCA. The antagonism of ACTH to DCA in regard to plasma Na is mediated through the adrenals. ACE reduced the hyper-natremia in DCA-treated rats but had no effect on the hypokalemia.