Effect of the Continuous Intravenous Administration of Corticotropin Upon the Work Output of Hypophysectomized Rats

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Abstract
Hypophysectomized and sham-operated male rats of 200-g. wt. were anesthetized with barbiturates and subjected to faradic stimulation of the gastrocnemius muscle to lift a 100-g. wt. 5 times/sec. Stimulation was continued until death of the animal or for 48 hrs. Corticotropin was admd. to the hypophysectomized rats by continuous intraven. injn. The work performance was increased above the values for untreated animals by the admn. of 0.1 U.(U.S.P.)of corticotropin/rat/day and increments in dosage caused further increments in muscle work. Two units/day restored the level of work output to normal and doses of 5 and 10 U. gave avg. values for work which were somewhat greater than normal but the significance of the differences was not established with certainty.