BLOOD CHEMISTRY 



181 



The rise in the non-protein-nitrogen of the blood is one of 

 the earliest manifestations of adrenal insufficiency and is evi- 

 dent before many of the other characteristics of adrenal in- 

 sufficiency such as weakness, anorexia, etc. become prominent. 

 The non-protein-nitrogen content of the blood may reach 



73 30 70 



Daj/s FolloH//np Adrenalectomy 



Fig. 11. Changes in the Blood Chemistry in Adrenal Insufficiency 

 Composite records of results obtained on dogs adrenalectomized in stages. 

 The animals received no therapy during the period of observation and died 

 seven days following the removal of the second gland. With the exception of 

 the pH, the values are expressed in terms of milligrams per 100 cc. 



values as high as five to six times the normal (c/. Figure 11) but 

 often animals die of typical insufficiency with a non-protein 

 nitrogen which is only twice the normal. Death can not be 

 due to the accumulation of this catabolite for experimentally 

 one can produce much higher values than occur in adrenal in- 

 sufficiency (e.g., by ligature of the ureters) without fatal result. 



