ROLE OF THE ADRENAL-CORTEX AND MEDULLA IN THE YOUNG-RATS GLUCOREGULATORY RESPONSE TO ENDOTOXIN

The importance of the adrenal gland in the 10 day old (10 d) rats' glu coregulatory response to endotoxin (ETX) was investigated. Plasma gluc ose, lactate, and liver glycogen were measured at 0, 2, 3, and 4 h aft er ETX to 10 d adrenalectomized (ADRNX), adrenal demedullated (MEDX), and sham-operated (SHAM) rats. At 24 h after ETX, mortality in the ADR NX group was a striking 86% compared with 34% and 36% in intact and SH AM groups, respectively. Mortality in MEDX rats (47%) did not differ f rom control groups. Although MEDX exacerbated hypoglycemia at 3 and 4 h after ETX (p less than or equal to .05), ADRNX produced severe hypog lycemia by 2 h after ETX. Lactacidemia occurred earlier and was greate r in ADRNX rats than in MEDX and SHAM rats. Unlike MEDX, ADRNX signifi cantly decreased liver glycogen and ETX rapidly depleted the remaining glycogen by 2 h after injection. These results demonstrate the greate r importance of the adrenal cortex relative to the adrenal medulla in the 10 d rats' defense against ETX-induced hypoglycemia, hyperlactacid emia, and lethality.