Hypertrophy produced by Adrenalin in Rabbits. 7 



5 (614) 



The influence of the salts of calcium and potassium on the 

 degree of hypertrophy produced by adrenalin 

 injections in rabbits. 



By HUGH A. STEWART. 



[From the Department of Pathology, College of Physicians and 

 Surgeons, Columbia University, New York.] 



A series of experiments was conducted with a view to deter- 

 mine whether the antagonism between calcium and adrenalin, as 

 recently described by Meltzer and Auer, Schrank and others, holds 

 good also as regards the hypertrophy of the heart which adrenalin 

 produces when injected intravenously into rabbits. 



The method of investigation was as follows: One lot of rabbits 

 was given every second day 0.2 c.c. of adrenalin chloride (1 in 

 1,000) in 2 c.c. of physiological salt solution. Throughout the 

 whole series, twenty-four injections were given. A second lot 

 received the same amount of adrenalin in 2 c.c. of a 10 per cent, 

 solution of calcium chloride for the same length of time. Still a 

 third lot was given 0.2 c.c. of adrenalin (1 in 1,000) in 2 c.c. of 

 physiological salt solution every second day for twenty-four 

 injections. The animals of this lot, however, were kept on a 

 diet of carrots and potatoes only, the object being to give a diet 

 containing a minimal amount of calcium. A fourth lot received 

 the same amount of adrenalin in 2 c.c. of a 2 per cent, solution of 

 potassium chloride. 



As a result of these experiments, data were obtained which 

 justified the following conclusions: 



I. That calcium does not inhibit or prevent the hypertrophy 

 of the heart produced by adrenalin. 



II. That on a diet poor in calcium, the degree of hypertrophy 

 is insignificant. From this it would seem that a certain percent- 

 age of calcium in the tissues is necessary in order that injections 

 of adrenalin will produce hypertrophy. 



III. The addition of potassium to adrenalin increases slightly 

 the degree of hypertrophy. 



