Influence of Traumatic Shock on Blood Sugar of Adrenalectomized Rats Treated with Adrenal Cortical Extract.

Abstract

Experiments in the rat indicate that trauma fails to elicit the usual hyperglycemia in the absence of the adrenals. Active corticoid hormone preparations restore the low blood sugar of adrenalectomized animals to normal, but do not raise it above this level, nor do they cause hyperglycemia in intact animals. If such extracts are administered to adrenalectomized rats during traumatic shock, they cause a significant rise in the blood sugar concentration and at the same time increase shock resistance. It appears that the metabolic changes elicited by extensive tissue damage alter the action of adrenal cortical hormones on the blood sugar.