STUDY ON EFFECTS OF ENDOCRINES ON INCREASE IN AMOUNT OF BODY FAT.

Abstract

The influences of endocrines of hypophysis, adrenal cortex, thyroid, pancreas, and gonads were scrutinized in the albino rat. Results are summarized as follows:1) When the fat content in diet was 20, 30, and 40%, the amount of body fat was 16.4, 20.2, and 16.2%, respectively. In subsequent experiments, therefore, diet containing 20% of fat was used and the amount of body fat more than 20% was judged to be increased.2) ACTH was injected in doses of 1, 2, 3, and 5mg daily and the amount of body fat was maximal (23.6%) with 2mg of ACTH.3) Cortisone was injected in doses of 0.5, 1, 2, and 3mg daily, and no increase in the body fat was noted in either case. It is indicated that the increase in body fat upon injection of ACTH is not due to augmented secretion of cortisone.4) Thyradin, a thyroid preparation, was injected in doses of 0.1, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5, and 1ml. The result shows that the body fat was maximal (27.3%) when 0.4ml of Thyradin was injected. From the result in this experiment, it may be thought that the increase in amount of body fat upon injection of ACTH is due to augmentation of thyroid secretion.5) Alloxan was injected in doses of 4, 6, 8, and 10mg, and the body fat was maximal (26.5%) upon injection of 6mg of alloxan, when the blood sugar level was 140-155mg per 100ml and the animal had no glucosuria.6) Uni- and bilateral orchiectomy and ovariectomy resulted in the amount of body fat of 22-23%.7) Neither of combinations of ACTH (2mg) and Thyradin (0.4ml), ACTH (2mg) and alloxan (6mg), Thyradin (0.4ml) and alloxan (6mg) injections, uni- or bilateral orchiectomy or ovariectomy and alloxan (6mg) injection, and ACTH (2mg), Thyradin (0.4ml) and alloxan (6mg) injections could produce increase in the body fat more than that produced by application of each one of the above treatments.8) From the above results, it is concluded that the body fat increases when adequate amounts of ACTH, Thyradin, and alloxan are injected or when the gonads are exstirpated, and that the increase in body fat is the greatest with injection of either 0.4ml Thyradin or 6mg alloxan. In view of this, the increase in body fat should be the greatest in the moderate hyperthyroidal state or in the prediabetic state.The combinations of the above treatments cannot raise the body fat above those levels obtained by each treatment alone.