THE EFFECT OF ADRENAL STEROIDS UPON THE SECRETION OF HYPOTONIC URINE BY THE RAT

Abstract

SUMMARY: After destruction of the supraoptico-hypophysial tracts, rats drank up to twice their body weight of water daily. Subsequent adrenalectomy diminished their polyuria, but they continued to excrete abnormal quantities of urine which was slightly hypotonic to plasma. Cortisone alone caused a small and usually transient increase in the urine output of doubly operated rats, but deoxycortone alone almost restored the pre-adrenalectomy output. Full polyuria was restored by treatment with both steroids. Deoxycortone appeared to act directly on the distal tubule, where it stimulated the release of osmotically free water. Cortisone probably acted in part indirectly through an antagonism with antidiuretic hormone.