Perfusion of the Isolated Adrenals in Situ

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Abstract
A technique is described in which the circulation of the adrenal glands of the dog is completely isolated on the arterial side as well as on the venous side. With this technique the adrenal glands can be perfused in situ and, if desired, in vivo without any interruption of their blood supply and without any direct trauma. The adrenal glands may be perfused with the dog's own blood pumped by the dog's own heart (autoperfusion), or with the blood of another dog pumped by a mechanical pump. It was found that unless both recipient and donor dogs are hypophysectomized, the adrenal glands of the recipient dog are maximally stimulated and are not responsive to large doses of ACTH. If hypophysectomized animals are used, the perfused adrenals secrete small amounts of hydrocortisone and are responsive to very small doses of ACTH. This technique would seem to be an ideal means of studying the direct effect of any agent on the adrenal glands without the interference of other endocrine glands or other organs.