ARTERIAL HYPERTENSION IN THE CHICKEN

Selye,¹ while investigating the pharmacology of corticoid hormones, discovered that overdosage with desoxycorticosterone acetate in the chick elicits nephrosclerosis, cardiovascular changes, water retention and diarrhea, symptoms similar to those of avian Bright's disease. This action of the corticoid hormone was especially readily obtained in birds given 0.3 per cent sodium chloride instead of drinking water. Selye also demonstrated that salt alone sufficed to produce in chicks a syndrome characterized by nephrosclerosis and disturbances of water metabolism. Krakower and Heino² found that in chicks on high salt intake there was elevation of blood pressure, a definite renal glomerular enlargement, new formation of glomerular tufts and increased tortuosity and medial hypertrophy of renal arteries and preglomerular arterioles.

Katz and his co-workers³ report experiments in which chicks were placed on a diet of mash and tap water for sixteen days. Three control blood pressures on each chicken were taken during