The Development of Hypertension and Nephritis in Normal and Adrenalectomized Rats Treated With Cortisone.

Abstract

Studies were undertaken to determine the influence of cortisone on the development of hypertension and nephritis in both adrenalectomized and intact rats. Renal damage was induced with rabbit anti-rat kidney serum. The dosage of cortisone was 2.5 mg. daily. The admn. of cortisone did not prevent the development of exptl. cytotoxic serum nephritis in the rat. Moderate hypertension developed in nephritic rats with intact adrenal glands when injd. with cortisone whereas striking hypertension appeared in adrenalectomized nephritic rats similarly treated. The nephritic rats rendered hypertensive by the admn. of cortisone presented no greater histological evidence of renal damage than did normotensive control nephritic animals.