WATER EXCRETION IN HYPOPHYSECTOMIZED RATS BEFORE AND AFTER ADRENALECTOMY1,2

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Abstract
The rate of excretion of a test load of water before and after adrenalectomy was measured in 2 groups of hypophysectomized rats, each on a different diet. With the diets employed, no difference in excretory rates between the 2 groups could be observed. The hypophysectomized rat excretes a test load of water more slowly than an intact animal. This is further and markedly reduced following adrenalectomy, thereby indicating that the adrenal cortex does possess some degree of function even in the absence of the anterior pituitary. This further deficit in water excretion induced by adrenalectomy is apparently not due to operative trauma or pre-terminal morbidity.