THE EFFECT OF ADRENALECTOMY ON BLOOD PYRUVATE IN CATS INJECTED WITH GLUCOSE AND INSULIN

SUMMARY Injection of glucose (290 mg./kg.) with insulin (0·5 unit/kg.) into conscious adrenalectomized cats was followed by an increase in venous pyruvate concentration which was not seen in intact cats given the same doses of glucose and insulin. When normal cats received 1·5 units insulin/kg. with the glucose there was again no sustained change in blood pyruvate concentration during the first 30 min. after injection. In these animals the decrease of blood glucose was the same as in the adrenalectomized cats, and greater than in intact cats injected with 0·5 unit insulin/kg. After glucose and insulin had been given to acutely eviscerated cats the blood pyruvate level rose in previously adrenalectomized animals and fell in previously intact animals. These results provide some support for an extrahepatic action of glucocorticoid hormones.