Chapter IX 



PATHOLOGICAL PHYSIOLOGY OF ADRENAL INSUF- 

 FICIENCY 



The normal physiological functions of animals in adrenal in- 

 sufficiency are disturbed in many ways. Some of these path- 

 ological manifestations are the results of the anatomical and 

 blood chemistry changes described in Chapters X and XI 

 while the basis for others is still a matter of uncertainty. 



In general, the physiological changes observed in experi- 

 mental adrenal insufficiency are rather characteristic but cer- 

 tain minor differences occur depending upon the animal 

 species investigated and upon the rapidity with which the in- 

 sufficiency develops. Many of the phenomena to be described 

 are not observed in animals surviving adrenalectomy for only 

 a brief time. One must avoid confusion with the manifesta- 

 tions due to the surgical shock attendant upon adrenalectomy. 

 The dysfunctions due specifically to absence of the adrenal 

 cortex are best brought out by withdrawing the administration 

 of the cortical hormone from adrenalectomized animals main- 

 tained on adequate doses of the hormone until the original 

 operative wounds have healed. In this way the onset of in- 

 sufficiency is delayed and one has the opportunity of observing 

 the symptomatology and physiological variations occurring 

 in uncomplicated cortical insufficiency. 



In dogs surviving less than fifty hours, Banting and Gairns 31 

 observed the following symptoms before the onset of the coma 

 which precedes death: 



Rapid pulse Loss of appetite 



Elevated temperature Terminal fall in blood sugar 



Thirst Anuria 



Restlessness Vomiting 



Salivation Diarrhea 



Weakness Convulsions 

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