OXYGEN CONSUMPTION OF ERYTHROCYTES OF ADRENALECTOMIZED RATS TREATED WITH VARIOUS LIFE-SUSTAINING SUBSTANCES

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Abstract
Male white rats weighing between 80 and 120 g. were divided into 5 exptl. groups: 1, unoperated (control) rats; 2, adrenalectomized rats; and adrenalectomized rats that were treated with either 3, whole adrenocortical extract (W.A.C.); 4, desoxycorticosterone (D.O.C); or 5, 1% NaCl in drinking water. The respiration of their erythrocytes was measured in Warburg manometers. Blood from 6-8 rats was pooled, and the washed cells were resuspended in their own vol. (50% suspension) of Krebs-Ringer soln. buffered at pH 7.4 with Na2HPO4. There was a measurable O2 consumption of the non-nucleated red cells. Adrenalectomy produced a decrease of 73% in the mean O2 uptake (Qo2). A decrease in Qo2 was not identifiable at the end of the first day, but at the end of the 2d day and thereafter was constant until the terminal stage. Either W.A.C., D.O.C, or NaCl returned the Qo2 of erythrocytes of adrenalectomized rats to "normal." Doses of W.A.C. and D.O.C. stronger than necessary for maintenance of adrenalectomized rats did not raise the Qo2 for their red cells above the value characteristic for the controls. D.O.C, at least, tended to prevent the relatively great decrease in Qo2 for red cells of adrenalectomized rats kept in vitro. Reticulocyte counts were not modified in adrenalectomized rats by either W.A.C or D.O.C. Following adrenalectomy, there was an apparent increase in the water load of the red cells, since isosmotic Krebs'' soln. behaved as though it were hypertonic; while the red cells from adrenalectomized rats treated with either NaCl or D.O.C. behaved as though Krebs'' soln. were hypotonic.

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