THE EFFECT OF ASPIRIN UPON THE GLYCOSURIA OF PARTIALLY DEPANCREATIZED RATS IN THE PRESENCE AND ABSENCE OF THE ADRENAL GLANDS

Abstract

This study was a partial test of the hypothesis that large doses of aspirin can cause a state of hypercorticalism in the rat. 33 partially depancreatized male rats of about 300 g. wt. were force-fed a medium carbohydrate diet. 16 rats of this group were also adrenalectomized and treated with adrenal cortical extract in amts. (3 to 5 cc. daily) which sustained the preadrenalectomy level of glycosuria. Each rat was given subcut. injns. of aspirin in oil suspension in amts. of 40, 80 and 160 mg./rat for 7 days/ dose. There was a marked suppression of glycosuria to an extent which was related to the size of the dose of aspirin. When the injns. of the drug were stopped there was a temporary exacerbation of the glycosuria to much higher levels than were noted during the pre-injn. period. Since the pattern and extent of response to aspirin was identical in both the presence and absence of the adrenal glands, it was concluded that this pharmacologic effect of aspirin is not mediated by the adrenal glands.