Pork Adrenal-Cortex Extract: Effect upon Carbohydrate Metabolism and Work Capacity in Addison's Disease1

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Abstract
Pork adrenal-cortex extract has a direct action upon carbohydrate metabolism, greater than that of beef adrenal-cortex extract. 1 ml. in oil represents approx. the same survival-growth potency (40 rat u.) as 10 ml. of beef extract (aqueous). When given intramusc. in these proportions, usually in doses of 2 ml. and 20 ml. respectively, the pork extract tends to correct the blood-sugar abnormalities of Addison''s disease, while beef extract exerts comparatively little such effect. Studies upon 7 patients with Addison''s diseased produced: Increased absorption of glucose from the gastro-intestinal tract; prevention of hypoglycemia after food or glucose intake or as the result of prolonged fasting (apparently accomplished by increasing the glucose output from the liver); increased utilization of glucose by the tissues, as indicated by higher capillary and lower venous blood sugar and greater arterio-venous differences; increased capacity for muscular work; adequate control of salt and water metabolism, as well as of carbohydrate metabolism, when given in small doses daily. The greater proportional effect of pork adrenal-cortex extract is apparently due to its higher content of the steroids having an 0 or OH on C11, such as corticosterone and 17-hydroxy-ll-dehydrocorticosterone (Kendall''s compound-E).