Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to F Jentzen.
the plasmacortisol-levels of 27 patients suffering from glaucoma were compared with those of 156 healthy persons. There was no difference between the two groups compared. In addition, a diurnal inversion of the plasmacortisol-level in patients suffering from glaucoma as reported in the literature was not found.
Eye drops and ointments containing corticosteroids moderately influence plasma cortisol levels. Subconjunctival or retrobulbar injections of dexamethasone phosphate (4 mg/day) have a pronounced effect on endogenous cortisol synthesis. This effect, however, is reversible. If additional oral corticosteroid medication is given over a prolonged period of time the function of the adrenal glands may be seriously damaged for more than a year.
Plasma aldosterone levels and the serum electrolytes potassium, sodium and magnesium of 38 patients with healthy adrenals were determined. Under physiological conditions there were no significant correlations between these parameters. In two patients with an aldosterone producing adenoma of the adrenals (syndrome of Conn) we found very low levels of potassium and low levels of magnesium. The levels of sodium lay in the upper normal range. Plasma aldosterone levels are raised strongly. After resection of the tumors the mentioned parameters normalized. In 16 patients with cirrhosis and ascites we generally found values of aldosterone, potassium, sodium and magnesium which lay in the lowest normal range. Under treatment with spironolactone the aldosterone levels raised and reached values which are characteristical of the syndrome of Conn. Potassium raised to the upper normal range, magnesium raised significantly, sodium diminished slightly.
Amphiphilic drugs like chlorphentermine induce a generalized lipid storage disease upon chronic application. The adrenal cortex is among the organs most heavily affected. We therefore determined the urinary corticosterone excretion during the treatment of rats with chlorphentermine and the corticosterone content of the adrenals and its blood level at the end of the treatment period. In addition, the responsiveness of adrenal cortex was tested by application of ACTH. During treatment, the corticosterone excretion declined considerably. Both the corticosterone content of the adrenals and the plasma level were found depressed at the end of a treatment period of 8 weeks. The ACTH evoked response was also diminished. The results indicate that the chlorphentermine-induced lipidosis is associated with a reduced corticosterone production of the adrenal cortex of rats. At present it cannot be decided whether the cortical insufficiency is causally related to lipidotic alterations of the cortical cells, or whether it is caused or additionally influenced by alteration at a higher level, e.g. hypothalamic centers or anterior pituitary.
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