EFFECT OF LYMPHOID NECROSIS DUE TO NITROGEN MUSTARD AND ROENTGEN IRRADIATION ON NEUROMUSCULAR FUNCTION OF HYPOPHYSECTOMIZED ANIMALS

Abstract

Hypophysectomized rats exhibited a marked decrease of the ability of nerve to maintain the amplitude of action potential during repetitive stimulation, and a decrease of the ability of nerve tissue to synthesize acetylcholine. Roentgen irradiation and admn. of N mustard increased the the ability to synthesize acetylcholine in hypophysectomized rats about 30%, and increased by about 30% their ability to maintain the amplitude of action potential during repetitive stimulation. Admn. of ACTH restored in hypophysectomized rats the ability to synthesize acetylcholine and the ability to maintain the amplitude of action potential to normal. The effect of ACTH in improving the function of nerve is probably dependent only in part on the reduction of the mass of thymus (perhaps also the lymphoid tissue).