ADRENAL SECRETION IN MAN

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Abstract
The decrease in surface temp, following stimulation by cold, pain, or fear observed in patients with Raynaud''s disease even after complete sympathectomy suggested the action of secreted adrenin. Continuous intraven. injections of adrenalin (1:250,000) into patients, following cervico-dorsal ganglionectomy, showed that the blood vessels of the sympathectomized extremity were more sensitive than those normally innervated. Injections of adrenalin were repeated 2, 6, 8, and 18 days after sympathectomy by paravertebral alcohol injection. The blood vessels became sensitive between the 6th and 8th days. Injections of insulin sufficient to cause hypoglycemia consistently caused a fall in skin temp. on the sympathectomized side with no change or even a rise on the normal side. Since insulin hypoglycemia is known to cause adrenal secretion in animals, this response showed that the human adrenal medulla secretes sufficient adrenin to cause constriction of blood vessels sensitized by sympathectomy. Control exps. were performed on rabbits in which the adrenals could be inactivated. With the adrenals intact, insulin hypoglycemia produced a definite fall in the temp. of the denervated ear. After removal of one adrenal and de-nervation of the other, hypoglycemia to the point of convulsions resulted in no decrease in the surface temp.

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