EFFECT OF ADRENAL ENUCLEATION ON SERUM SODIUM*

Abstract

The effect of adrenal enucleation on the serum Na concn. of young and old male and female rats was studied. Serum Na in rats depends upon Na intake and is increased by high temp. Therefore controls must always be run simultaneously with exptl. animals under the same conditions. Serum Na concn. falls and remains below normal for a few weeks following adrenal enucleation which removes a large proportion of the cortices, indicating that the tissue removed is necessary for maintenance of normal serum Na concn., that remaining being inadequate. Whether this is due to glomerulosa zone insufficiency alone or also involves other zones was not established.