Saline hydration and diuresis after adrenalectomy.

Abstract

ANIMALS in adrenal insufficiency, when hydrated orally with water, cannot excrete the water at a normal rate. A delay in excretion is also obtained when the water is administered as glucose or 0.85% saline solution (Gaunt, 1944; Hays and Mathieson, 1945; Reforzo-Membrives, Power and Kepler, 1945). Even the administration of desoxycorticosterone acetate (DCA) or adrenal cortical extracts will only maintain a normal response to hydration for a short period of time (Gaunt, 1944; Gaunt, Liling and Cordsen, 1945; Hays and Mathieson, 1945), although injections of epinephrine will increase the diuresis. The adrenalectomized animal, receiving excess fluids, will also easily develop the syndrome of water intoxication. Adrenal steroids, particularly DCA, will offer good protection against water intoxication, without, however, markedly increasing urine output. Various theories have been elaborated in attempts to explain the failure of adrenalectomized animals to excrete water, glucose solution or 0.85% saline at a n...