INTESTINAL ABSORPTION IN THE ADRENALECTOMIZED DOG

Abstract

The authors used chronic Thiry-Vella loops prepared from the low ileum in dogs. By the use of repeated standardized expts. on trained waking animals before and after adrenalectomy, and with and without adrenal cortical hormone injs., they showed that withdrawal of the hormone results in diminution of absorption of Na, Cl, and K. The relative diminution in absorption of Na was greater than that of K; in some expts. Na was lost by the animal into the gut while K was still being absorbed. Adm. of cortin reversed these changes in each of 4 expts. The reduction in osmotic pressure of the gut fluid normally occurring in absorption of chloride with the performance of osmotic work was reduced regularly on the withdrawal of adrenal cortical hormone, and returned toward normal on hormone injection.