THE EFFECT OF DESOXYCORTICOSTERONE ACETATE AND OF BLOOD SERUM TRANSFUSIONS UPON THE CIRCULATION OF THE ADRENALECTOMIZED DOG

Abstract

Desoxycorticosterone acetate (D.C.A.) causes persistent elevation of both the blood pressure and plasma vol. of the adrenalectomized dog. Comparable dosage has less effect upon the intact animal. There appears to be little correlation between dosage employed and extent of the blood pressure rise when doses of more than 0.5 mg. per dog per day are used. The pressure rise is usually associated with an increase in plasma vol., but the blood pressure elevation is not necessarily dependent upon the increased plasma vol. Transfusion of blood serum of normal dogs into other normal dogs and into adrenalectomized animals receiving adequate maintenance doses of cortical extract does not induce symptoms. Similar transfusions of serum into adrenalectomized dogs not receiving extract promptly leads to circulatory collapse accompanied by edema. Inj. of extract causes disappearance of edema within a few hrs. and the blood pressure slowly rises to normal levels. Adrenalectomized dogs with lowered blood pressure can be transfused with serum without circulatory embarrassment or signs of edema if given cortical extract before transfusion. The expts. on serum transfusion offer supportive evidence for the view that the permeability of the capillaries is markedly increased in the adrenalectomized dog and that cortical hormones restore the permeability of these vessels to normal.