Relation of Scurvy to the Adrenalin Content of the Adrenal Glands of Guinea Pigs

It has been reported from this laboratory (1) that a deficiency of vitamin C in guinea pigs leads to changes in carbohydrate metabolism, as evidenced by glycosuria, a diabetic type of the glucose tolerance curve, and depletion of the glycogen content of the liver. We have also found that there is a fall in the insulin content of the pancreas (2), an increase in the size and also the number of islets, and degranulations of the p-cells of the pancreas (3) of scorbutic guinea pigs. It is well known that adrenalin and insulin produce opposite glycemic effects (Cori and coworkers (4, 5)). It was therefore of particular interest to examine the effect of scurvy on the adrenalin content of the adrenal glands of guinea pigs. McCarrison (6) reported that the adrenalin content of the adrenals of scorbutic guinea pigs is decreased. Ohata (7) also noted a definite reduction in the adrenalin content of the adrenal glands of scorbutic guinea pigs and presented evidence that this was not purely an effect of inanition. Deutsch and Schlapp (8) likewise reported a decrease in the adrenalin content of the adrenal glands of guinea pigs in scurvy. Mouriquand and Leulier (9), however, found no lowering of the adrenalin content of the adrenals of guinea pigs in avit,aminosis C. Guha (10) also observed no change in the adrenalin content of the adrenals of scorbutic guinea pigs. In view of the conflicting data cited above it was decided to reinvestigate the adrenalin content of the adrenal glands of scorbutic guinea pigs. A preliminary report of this work has been published elsewhere (11).