Effect of intracisternal injection of ACTH on blood glucose and hepatic glycogen in dogs.

The intracisternal administration of ACTH in a dose of 0.2 muU in mongrel dogs produced a significant (P less than 0.001) rise in blood glucose (BGL) and a fall (P less than 0.01) in hepatic glycogen concentration (HGC): in contrast its intravenous administration was devoid of this action. These changes were markedly reduced in the hepatic denervated animals and were completely abolished in animals with spinal cord transectomy. The above changes suggest that ACTH on the intracisternal administration causes a rise in the BGL by an action on the liver through the sympathetic fibers.