REDISTRIBUTION OF BODY FLUIDS AFTER GLUCOSE INJECTIONS IN RATS WITH ADRENOCORTICAL TRANSPLANTS1,

Abstract

In 16 normal, 15 adrenalectomized and in 23 rats with adrenocortical transplants the total cell vol. and Hb changes were followed for a period of 12 hrs. after the intraperit. inj. of iso-tonic glucose (10cc. per 100 gs. body wt.). The cell opacity method of Shohl, Blackfan and Diamond (1940) was employed. Adrenalectomized rats with autoplastic grafts of adrenal cortex survived as did the normals but the adrenalectomized rats died at the height of hemoconc. around the 3d hr. The avg., maximum increase in cell vol. for the normals was 14.7%, for the transplants, 23.3% and for the adrenalectomized rats, 28.4%. Similarly, the maximum rise in Hb was 15.8%, 29.6% and 43.4% respectively. In the transplants hemodilution was delayed about 2 hrs. beyond the normal time. Less of the injected fluid was recovered as urine and more as ascitic fluid at the end of 12 hrs. in this group. However, the avg. total amt. of fluid recovered was only 38% for the [male] transplants and 45% for the ? transplants in contrast to 52% for normal [male][male] and 63% for normal [female][female]. The results obtained for the normal and adrenalectomized rats agreed closely with those reported by Gaunt et al. in 1937. The results obtained for the transplants showed that the functional capacity of the grafted adrenocortical tissue is less efficient in emergencies demanding rapid redistribution of body fluids than the normal cortex. In addition, there is some evidence that the readjustment of electrolytes and body fluids is accomplished more readily by the [female] than the [male].