THE RESPONSE OF SPLANCHNIC BLOOD VESSELS AND OF THE SMALL INTESTINE TO VASOCONSTRICTOR INFLUENCES IN ADRENAL INSUFFICIENCY IN THE CAT

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Abstract
In cats dying of adrenal insufficiency, splanchnic nerve stimulation or the intraven. inj. of pitressin or BaCl2 constricts blood vessels in the splanchnic region as in healthy adrenalectomized controls. The pressor response to these procedures in adrenal insufficiency was poor while that elicited by epinephrine was practically unimpaired. The retention of the pressor effect by epinephrine is attributed to its cardiac stimulating action. It is concluded that splanchnic nerve stimulation, pitressin and barium chloride cause but poor pressor response in adrenal insufficiency because the heart fails to respond normally to an increase in peripheral resistance. The contracted state of the small intestine in moribund adrenalectomized cats is remarked upon and the absence of relaxation attending splanchnic nerve stimulation or the injection of epinephrine. Evidence indicating that this abnormal reaction may be related to blood vol. deficiency or to alteration in blood electrolytes is presented.