PYROGEN FEVER IN RABBITS: EFFECTS OF ADRENALECTOMY

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Abstract
Changes in rectal temp., ear temp., respiratory rate and O2 consumption following intraven. injn. of a pyrogen derived from Pseudomonas aeruginosa were studied in 9 rabbits before and after adrenalectomy. Desoxycorticosterone pellets were implanted subcut. at adrenalectomy and 0.9% saline substituted for drinking water. None of the normal febrile changes in the measurements listed was significantly different following adrenalectomy but shivering was more prominent in some. It is concluded that adrenal medulla and cortex play no essential intermediary role in pyrogen fever but that shivering may substitute for epinephrine-induced calorigenesis in the deficient animal.