A FURTHER STUDY OF THE HORMONE OF THE ADRENAL CORTEX

Abstract

Cats whose adrenals are removed in 2 stages survive 6-11 days when untreated. Those injected with a small quantity of isotonic salt solution survived the shorter period. Increase in the interval between the operations, above a few days, does not lengthen the survival period. An increase in the operation time when not too great does not decrease the survival period. Adrenalectomized animals show considerable loss in weight if they survive many days. Cortin, the hormone of the adrenal cortex which is essential to life, is carried down by the precipitated material formed when NaCl is added to the point of saturation or below. Adrenalectomized cats treated with an extract made from such a precipitate survived an average of 26.4 days. Heating the NaCl precipitate extract to 80[degree] C. for 5 min. destroys its potency. Precipitation of the protein in the NaCl precipitate extract by ethyl alcohol does not diminish the potency. A concentrated preparation of cortin can be made by extracting the cortex with ethyl ether which dissolves very little epinephrine. The ether is removed by distillation, the residue being extracted with warm 80% ethyl alcohol. Much inert material is removed by chilling and filtering. After removing the alcohol, the residue is taken up in water. The aqueous solution contains the cortin. This extract acts as a substitute for the adrenal cortex. Adrenalectomized cats are being kept alive in good condition indefinitely by its use. The growth of young rats whose adrenals have been removed has been maintained until the adult stage is reached by injecting the extract. Such rats behave normally in every way, even to raising litters. Cortin treated adrenalectomized cats eat well, gain in weight, play, fight and act like normals. Cortin lowers the blood urea when high. It increases the resistance to infection and cold. It speeds the repair of injury and enables the animal to withstand operative or other trauma. By its use it is possible to remove both adrenals at 1 operation and maintain life indefinitely. Animals allowed to pass into the last stages of adrenal insufficiency which just precede death have been revived by cortin. A case of Addison''s disease with a systolic blood pressure of 50 mm. and a pulse of 120 per min. together with other characteristic symptoms has been revived by the use of cortin. Cortin is apparently not effective by mouth. When given subcutaneously one can begin to detect its effects in a few hours.