ACTIVITY OF DESOXYCORTICOSTERONE ACETATE IN PROPYLENE GLYCOL BY ORAL AND INTRAVENOUS ROUTES IN ADRENALECTOMIZED DOGS, AND ITS EFFECT ON THE CARDIAC ARHYTHMIA OF ADRENAL INSUFFICIENCY

Abstract

THE SUBLINGUAL ADMINISTRATION of desoxycorticosterone acetate in propyleneglycol was introduced recently by Anderson, Haymaker and Henderson (1) in the treatment of Addison's disease. They found this method to be as effective as subcutaneous or intramuscular injections of the hormone in oil, while the ingestion of tablets of desoxycorticosterone acetate was of no value. It seemed desirable to test the effectiveness of this material in a laboratory animal. Adrenalectomized dogs were chosen for the investigation since a study had been made on the maintenance of such animals by injections of desoxycorticosterone acetate in oil and this would provide a basis for comparison (2). Oral administration of desoxycorticosterone acetate in propylene glycol was undertaken on dogs previously maintained by daily injections of hormone and the value of intravenous injections of the same material was invests gated in dogs suffering severe adrenal insufficiency.