THE ACID INTOXICATION OF ADRENAL INSUFFICIENCY IN DOGS

Abstract

Adult [male] and non-pregnant dogs were bilaterally adrenalectomized, an interval of 5-10 days or more elapsing between operations. Dogs living under 4 days were disregarded for this investigation. Blood drawn 2-3 days after 2nd adrenalectomy in long surviving dogs was "normal" as compared with unilaterally and unoperated dogs. With appearance of symptoms, blood was drawn at regular intervals. First signs of weakness were accompanied by a lower blood sugar, the level of which fluctuated, in some cases, preceding death. The CO2 capacity and PH levels revealed an acidosis which shifted from the compensated to the uncompensated condition when the CO2 capacity approximated 30 to 33 vol. %. The concurrent rise in inorganic P of the serum contributes to the acidosis but the degree of retention is insufficient to account for its severity. The acidosis and retention of inorganic P suggests kidney failure, which suggestion is supported by renal function tests indicating renal impairment. The data indicate the probability that the suprarenal cortex secretes a hormone essential to normal kidney functioning.