EFFICACY OF DESOXYCORTICOSTERONE ACETATE AS REPLACEMENT THERAPY IN ADRENALECTOMIZED DOGS

Abstract

Several points arising from routine study of blood and urine chemistry of a colony of adrenalectomized dogs maintained on desoxycorticosterone acetate (D.C.A.) have been compiled as a partial study on the efficacy of this hormone as replacement therapy. Despite varied salt intakes, D.C.A. maintained normal serum Na and Cl concs., and electrolyte balance. When the NaCl was high, the serum Na level was even increased slightly above normal. Serum K concs. were lowered, but usually not to sub-normal levels. No toxic symptoms ascribable to abnormally low serum K were observed. On high D.C.A. dosage levels, the blood sugar was often low, and hypoglycemia was occasionally observed. Blood urea N levels were depressed, a change observed in intact dogs given D.C.A. as well. Body wt. showed a rapid increase, with the gain fairly well correlated with the dilution of body fluids as indicated by lowered hematocrit, Hb, and serum protein values. The blood pressure was elevated above normal, a change not directly correlated with D.C.A. dosage. Hence the only untoward effects of D.C.A. therapy found were the rise in blood pressure, moderate in extent, and the tendency toward a low blood sugar level, which could be controlled by regulation of the glucose intake and the D.C.A. dosage employed.