RESISTANCE OF RATS WITH ENUCLEATED ADRENALS TO INTRAPERITONEAL INJECTION OF A HYPERTONIC GLUCOSE SOLUTION

Abstract

SUMMARY The resistance of rats to intraperitoneal injection of hypertonic glucose solution, as measured by the animals' survival, has been studied in rats with enucleated adrenals at various intervals after operation. As is the case with adrenalectomized animals, there was no resistance 4 days after the operation. Resistance had partially returned after 8 days and was restored to normal after 13 days. The restoration of resistance coincided with the disappearance of disturbances in the metabolism of fat, protein and carbohydrate caused by adrenal enucleation, but those involving sodium, potassium and water metabolism persisted. Recovery of normal resistance to the stressing stimulus used seemed to depend on the quantity of cortical tissue regenerated rather than on its differentiation into typical cortical zones.