EFFECT OF DESOXYCORTICOSTERONE ACETATE AND ADRENAL CORTICAL EXTRACTS ON SURVIVAL OF ADRENALECTOMIZED AND INTACT RATS AFTER BURNING

Abstract

Desoxycorticosterone acetate (DCA) administered in daily doses of 1 mg. to adrenalectomized rats for 5-8 days prior to burning protected them against a burn usually lethal in control animals. Among the 18 animals thus treated, 16 survived the burn; of 17 control adrenalectomized rats, only 3 survived. No significant difference in the degree of hemoconcentration 2 hrs. after burning was noted between adrenalectomized controls and adrenalectomized animals treated with DCA. Adrenal cortical extracts (ACE) injected into 24 adrenalectomized rats at daily dose levels up to 150 DU for 5-8 days before burning resulted in only 2 survivals. DCA raised the resistance of nonadrenalectomized rats against a more severe burning, whereas ACE did not show a similar effect. Eighteen of 20 untreated rats died after the burning, while of 20 rats, which received daily injns. of DCA (1 mg.) for 7 days prior to burning, 16 survived. When ACE or DCA was given after burning variable and inconclusive results occurred. Neither substance appeared to be any more efficacious than were small amts. of saline.