Absence of Beneficial Effects from Injections of Desoxycorticosterone Acetate and of Cortical Adrenal Extract in Experimental Anuria.

Hoff, Smith and Winkler (1) found that dogs with anuria secondary to nephrectomy or to ureteral ligation die from cardiac arrest due to autointoxication with potassium. Potassium, derived from the breakdown of the animal's own tissues, can apparently neither be excreted nor stored, and gradually accumulates until a concentration sufficient to cause cardiac arrest is attained. A clinical state somewhat analogous to these forms of experimental anuria has recently been described by Beall and others (2, 3, 4, 5) in patients with anuria of several days duration following crushing injuries. In some patients the potassium of serum rose considerably, and it seems possible that in some instances death may have been due to potassium poisoning. Since desoxycorticosterone acetate (hereafter called "DOCA") may, under certain circumstances, lower the serum potassium, the possibility that this substance might prove of therapeutic value naturally presented itself. Selye (6, 7) and Dosne (8) have in fact reported considerable prolongation of life in anuric rats previously treated with DOCA, and have termed this effect an "antiuremic action." The present study deals mainly with the results of DOCA injections in anuric dogs. Several supplementary experiments with whole cortical extract were carried out.