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Endocrine function in dogs after ablation of the area postrema

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Summary

Possible neuroendocrine functions of the area postrema have been investigated by studying adrenal cortical, adrenal medullary, thyroid and gonadal function and carbohydrate metabolism in 13 dogs in which this region was surgically ablated. Normal unoperated animals and five dogs in which the area had sustained only minor damage served as controls. Adrenal cortical function, as measured by the output of 17-hydroxycorticoids in the adrenal vein and by adrenal weight and histological findings, was normal. Also normal were thyroid function (uptake of radioactive iodine, thyroid weight and histological findings) and testicular morphology. Secretion of catechol amines from the adrenal medulla after surgical trauma was not affected by the lesions. The fall in blood pressure following hemorrhage was slightly greater in the animals with lesions, but epinephrine and nor-epinephrine secretion in response to this stimulus were not abnormal.

No chronic abnormality of carbohydrate metabolism was detected by analysis of the blood and urine for sugar or by insulin tolerance tests, but in three of seven dogs tested, electrolytic destruction of the area postrema led to transient glycosuria.

Ablation of the area postrema prevented apomorphine-induced vomiting.

Zusammenfassung

Es wurden mögliche neuroendokrine Funktionen der Area postrema durch Studium der Nebennierenrinden- und Marksubstanz-, der Thyreoidea- und der Gonadentätigkeit sowie des Kohlehydratstoffwechsels bei 13 Hunden nach chirurgischer Entfernung dieser Region untersucht. Normale unoperierte Tiere und 5 Hunde, deren Area postrema nur einer geringen Schädigung unterworten wurde, dienten als Kontrolle. Die Nebennierenrindenfunktion, gemessen durch die Ausschüttung von 17-Hydroxycorticoiden in die Nebennierenvene, durch das Nebennierengewicht und durch die histologischen Befunde, war normal. Auch die Schilddrüsenfunktion (Aufnahme von radioaktivem Jod, Schilddrüsengewicht und histologischer Befund) sowie die Morphologie der Keimdrüsen waren normal. Die Sekretion von Katecholaminen aus der Nebennierenmarksubstanz nach chirurgischem Trauma wurde durch die Läsion nicht beeinflußt. Der auf Blutung folgende Blutdruckabfall war etwas größer bei den Tieren mit Läsionen, jedoch war die Adrenalin- und Noradrenalinsekretion als Antwort auf diesen Reiz nicht verändert.

Keine dauernde Änderung des Kohlehydratsoffwechsels wurde bei Blut- und Harnanalyse auf Zucker oder im Insulin-Toleranztest gefunden, jedoch führte bei 3 von 7 Hunden die elektrolytische Destruktion der Area postrema zu einer vorübergehenden Glykosurie.

Die Ablation der Area postrema verhinderte das durch Apomorphin bedingte Erbrechen.

Résumé

Des fonctions neuroendocriniennes possibles de I'area postrema furent examinées par I'étude de I'activité de la cortico- et médullo-surrénale, de la thyroïde et des gonades comme du métabolisme d'hydrate de carbone chez 13 chiens après extirpation chirurgicale de cette région. Des chiens non opérés normaux et 5 chiens chez lesquels I'area postrema n'était que peu modifiée furent employés comme contrôle. La fonction cortico-surrénale de I'excrétion des 17-hydrocorticoïdes dans la veine surrénale, déterminée par le poids des glandes surrénales et par I'examen histologique était normale. De même celle de la thyroïde (absorption de la iodine radioactive, poids de la thyroïde, examen histologique) ainsi que la morphologie des gonades. La sécrétion des catécholamines de la médullo-surrénale après traumatisme chirurgical n'était pas altérée. La chute de la pression artérielle après une hémorragie était un peu plus prononcée chez les animaux avec lésion, mais la sécrétion d'adrénaline et de noradrénaline comme réponse à ce stimulus n'était pas modifiée.

Aucun changement durable du métabolisme d'hydrate de carbone fut trouvé par analyse du sang et de I'urine après tolérance-test de sucre et d'insuline. Mais la destruction électrolytique de I'area postrema chez 3 de 7 chiens provoqua une glycosurie passagère.

L'ablation de I'area postrema inhiba le vomissement causé par I'apomorphine.

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Author notes

  1. W. F. Ganong M. C. (Assistant Professor)

    Present address: School of Medicine, Department of Physiology, University of California Medical Center, 22, San Francisco, California, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departments of Neurological Surgery and Physiology, University of California, School of Medicine, Berkeley-San Francisco

    B. L. Wise, A. Goldfien (Bank of America-Giannini Foundation Research Fellow in Medicine) &  W. F. Ganong M. C. (Assistant Professor)

  2. the Neurological Surgery Service, Letterman Army Hospital, San Francisco, California

    B. L. Wise, A. Goldfien (Bank of America-Giannini Foundation Research Fellow in Medicine) &  W. F. Ganong M. C. (Assistant Professor)

Authors
  1. B. L. Wise
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  2. A. Goldfien
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  3. W. F. Ganong M. C.
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With 2 Figures

Supported by grants from the Commonwealth Fund and from the Christine Breon Fund for Medical Research, made available by the Committee on Research of the School of Medicine, University of California.

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Wise, B.L., Goldfien, A. & Ganong, W.F. Endocrine function in dogs after ablation of the area postrema. Acta Neurovegetativa 22, 1–13 (1960). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01226649

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