Secretion of the corticotropic hormone (ACTH) in the therapeutic and experimental insulin shock

Abstract

The secretion of corticotrophic hormone (Acth) is studied in the three following circumstances in mental patients submitted to therapeutic insulinic shocks, in dogs with experimental insulinic come of two hours duration and in others prolonged during six hours, sufficient glucose being injected for the termination of coma.

In the first two groups of experiments a slow and sustained increase of the Acth secretion is observed, same persisting even after shock termination.

In the third group of experiments Acth increases in the first phase (convulsive) of the coma but diminished notably in the second phase (hypotonic) thereof. This may be in relation to the functonial state of the adrenal cortex, admitting that the function is exagerated but without reaching exhaustion in the first two groups of experiments and in the

first phase of the third group in the second phase of the latter a functional deficit through exhaustion may be supposed.

Accoording to the foregoing the authors consider the insulinic shock as a complex unspecific response of the type called by Selye ageneral adaptation syndrome». A first period of aalarm» (adrenalinic hypersecrelion, hypertension, tchicardia, hypoglycemia, etc.) would be followed by a very short period of tresistance», which may ledd to a period of exhaustation with symptoms of cortex-adrenal failure when coma is too prolonged, as in the animáis of the third group.