The failure of the adrenals to respond to cold stress during thiamine deficiency.

Abstract

SUMMARY 1. The adrenal glands of thiamine-deficient mice weighed more than those of normal mice and responded to adrenocorticotrophic hormone, but not to cold stress, by further hypertrophy. 2. Concomitant effects of thiamine deficiency were: (a) absence of change in pain threshold; (b) increased tolerance to intravenously injected acetylcholine; (c) increased storage of adrenaline in the adrenals; (d) decreased sensitivity of the vascular bed to noradrenaline but not to adrenaline. 3. Injections of adrenocortical extract prolonged the lives of thiamine-deficient animals exposed to a cold environment.