THE EFFECT OF ADRENAL CORTEX EXTRACT UPON URINARY NON-PROTEIN NITROGEN AND CHANGES IN WEIGHT IN YOUNG ADRENALECTOMIZED RATS

Abstract

The adrenalectomized rat is unable to grow at a normal rate (Hartman and Thorn, 1930). In the present study we have tested the suggestion (Ingle, 1944) that the slowing of growth in the adrenally insufficient animal is due entirely to secondary changes, principally the reduction in intake of food. Adrenalectomized rats were given a constant caloric intake by stomach tube and received saline to drink. The administration of adrenal cortex extract was followed by a decrease in urinary non-protein nitrogen and an increase in rate of gain in weight as compared to adrenalectomized rats which did not receive the hormone. methods Male rats of the Sprague-Dawley strain were maintained on Archer Dog Pellets until they reached a weight of approximately 300 grams. At this time they were placed in metabolism cages and adapted to the force-feeding of a medium carbohydrate diet by stomach tube each morning (8:30 to 9:15 a.m.) and afternoon (4:15 to 5:00 p.m.).