THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE ADRENAL AND PARATHYROID GLANDS

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Abstract
Of each of 22 sets of 4 animals one was adrenalectomized, a 2d adrenalectomized and injected with eschatin, a 3d adrenalectomized and given an option of 2% aq. soln. of NaCl or ordinary tap water to drink, and a 4th, the control, subjected to a dummy operation. Autopsy was performed when death appeared imminent in the untreated adrenalectomized rats (avg., 7 days). Adrenalectomy was followed by a decrease in size of the parathyroids not statistically significant and by a drop in serum-Ca level of probable significance. Treatment with eschatin prevented these changes and caused the parathyroids to become larger than those of the untreated adrenalectomized rats. Treatment with NaCl soln. had the same effect as eschatin on parathyroid size but did not prevent the drop in serum-Ca level. The latter may be apparent only, because of hydremia. Adrenalectomy did not lead to hyperactivity of the parathyroids; either there is no functional relationship or adrenalectomy led to hypoactivity of the parathyroids possibly by affecting Na metabolism.