Vascular Changes in the Cheek Pouch of Adrenalectomized, Cortisone-Sustained and Cortisone-Treated Hamsters as Determined by Electrical Impedance Plethysmography

¹ From the Department of Physiology, Graduate School of Arts and Science, New York University and the Murray and Leonie Guggenheim Foundation Institute for Dental Research, New York University, College of Dentistry, New York City

The relationship of the adrenal corticosteroids to vascular function in the cheek pouch vessels of the hamster was studied by electrical impedance plethysmography, adapted to the study of vascular changes in a membranous structure, and enabling the detection of minute variations in volume. Adrenal corticosteroids are related to the arteriolar tone, and seem to be especially concerned with the state of the capillaries. In adrenalectomized animals the magnitude and direction of the volume change when compared to the controls, to cortisone-treated animals, and to cortisone sustained adrenalectomized animals, could be explained only on the basis of changes in the capillary wall which permitted the loss of protein and fluid from the capillaries.