A SYNDROME OF POLYDIPSIA AND POLYURIA INDUCED IN NORMAL ANIMALS BY DESOXYCORTICOSTERONE ACETATE

Abstract

Large doses of desoxycorticosterone acetate induced in normal animals a syndrome of polydipsia and polyuria similar to that seen in diabetes insipidus. Although the syndrome superficially resembled that of d. i. the 2 states were dissimilar in at least 2 important respects: pituitrin was relatively ineffective and fluid restriction did not cause dehydration in our animals. The converse is true in diabetes insipidus. The condition is possibly primarily a thirst and only secondarily a polyuria. The cause of the thirst is not clear, but it may be related to the maintained increase in extracellular Na conc. or to some associated disturbance of the osmolar balance between extracellular and intracellular fluid. Whatever the mechanism of the polydipsia may be, the consequent polyuria enables the normal dog to avoid excessive retention of Na. A rapid flow of urine through the tubules would tend to counteract the increased Na reabsorption brought about by the adrenal cortical hormone.