THE METABOLISM OF TISSUES EXCISED FROM ADRENALECTOMIZED RATS

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Abstract
The respiratory metabolism of liver, kidney and diaphragm from adrenalectomized rats was unaltered by adrenalectomy. Testicle and brain exhibited a depressed O consumption in the absence of glucose, and the brain, a decrease of respiratory quotient also. In the presence of glucose, the 0 uptake of cerebral cortex of rats in extremis did not rise to the normal level. This cannot be imputed to inability of the brain to oxidize carbohydrate. Changes of cerebral metabolism similar to those produced by adrenalectomy also occurred in rats subjected to transection of the cord and hemorrhage for several hrs. The results indicate: (1) that depression of metabolism, which becomes an integral part of the syndrome of acute adrenal insufficiency, is produced by lack of energy obtained from the blood constituents, glucose and 0; (2) that the cerebral changes are, to a certain extent, irreversible; and (3) that the depressed metabolism is not peculiar to acute cortical adrenal insufficiency, but may occur in any conditions involving low blood pressure over a period of hrs.

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