THE RELATION OF CORTIN TO THE MAINTENANCE OF BODY TEMPERATURE

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Abstract
Adrenalectomized rats were exposed to cold after the injection of cortin, adrenalin chloride and isotonic NaCl solution. Animala which resist cold well show considerable voluntary movement while those which do not are very quiet. Normal rats show a fall in colonic temperature of 1[degree] C.+ when exposed to cold (4-18[degree] C.) for several hrs.; cortin-treated adrenalectomized rats, 2-3[degree] C; NaCl-treated adrenalectomized rats, 12[degree] C. or more with many deaths. Injected adrenalin did not increase the resistance of adrenalectomized rats. Metabolism is lowered 10-20% by adrenalectomy but returns to normal when an adequate supply of cortin is furnished. The fall in temp. of adrenalectomized rats when exposed to cold is due to a decrease in heat production. Although the latter increases at first it falls far short of making up for the heat loss and later goes below that of normal rats at 28[degree] C. Administration of cortin enables such animals to produce heat almost as well as normals. The ability of cortical extracts to protect adrenalectomized rats against cold has been used as a test for potency. There is an increase in the weight of adrenals of normal rats exposed to cold for 20 hrs. or longer.

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