Investigations on medullary adrenalin depletion caused by permanent high adrenalin levels

Abstract

Not only insulin application but also permanent treatment with adrenalin leads to adrenalin depletion of the adrenal medulla. Unilateral sympathectomy and subsequent treatment with insulin or adrenalin shows that in both cases adrenalin depletion is triggered by hypoglycaemia and activation of the sympathico-adrenal system. Therefore, a permanent elevation of the adrenalin level is sufficient to achieve depletion of the adrenal medulla, without necessitating a rise in the level of an additional hormone (insulin).