[Myocardial metabolism in experimental adrenal gland pathology]

The effect of cortisone, desoxycorticosterone, and their combination on the myocardial content of pyruvate, citrate, coenzyme A, thiamine, riboflavin, Ca2+ and Mg2+ in animals with resected or intact adrenals was studied on 320 male albino rats. Experimental adrenal insufficiency was attended with deep metalolic disorders which were not normalized completely after the administration of cortisone or DOCA alone or in combination. The trend of the metabolic effects of these hormones under conditions of experimental adrenal insufficiency differed from that in rats with intact adrenals. It is pointed out that in substitution and pathogenetic hormonotherapy it is necessary to take into account the "background" activity of the adrenal cortex and that additional prescription of agents of nonspecific correction of myocardial metabolism is expedient.