Extirpation of the adrenal or the pituitary has been shown to prevent the roduction of pancreatic diabetes. These facts show the important role of the adreno-Cortical hormone in diabetes. Adreno-cortical hormone could be divided into glucocorticoid and mineralocorticoid. The former has diabetogenic action but the latter has not. It is generally accepted that glucocorticoid is produced from the inner part of the cortex, and mineralocortcoid from the outer part of it.
We have confirmed in rats experiment that hypertrophy of the zona glomerulosa and atrophy of the zona fasciculata have been caused by feeding with potassium chloride for long period.
In these animals, we examined the course of alloxan diabetes.
The results are as follows:
1) Administration of potsssium Chloride produces hypertrophy of the zona glomeruloa and atrophy of the zona fasciculata in rabbits.
2) Alloxan was then injected in rabbits feeded with potassium, in dose which could destroy almost all the beta cells of the islets. The grade of hyperglycemia was slight. But the phase of hypoglycemia appeared relatively early, and severe hypoglycemia was observed. During few days, hyperglycemia continued temporarily and did not occur the persistes in the experimental rabbits.
3) Potsssium chloride could not protect in any way the beta cells of the islets from the injuring effect of alloxan.
4) These suppretion of the blood sugar following the administration of potassium chloride is interpreted as being to the atrophy of the zona fasciculata of the adrenal cortex.