An intracisternal injection of adrenaline in the cat produces a pronounced hyperglycaemia which has been attributed by Leimdorfer, Arana & Hack (1947) to a central action of the amine. However, it has recently been shown that this hyperglycaemia is largely attributable to peripheral action following absorption of the adrenaline into the blood stream, although a central component, mediated by the splanchnic nerves, does contribute to the resultant hyperglycaemia (Sproull, 1963).The present experiments, carried out to determine the site or sites of the systemic absorption and of the central action of intracisternally injected adrenaline, have shown that the main sites on and through which adrenaline acts from the subarachnoid space lie in the tuberal region on the ventral surface of the brain.
METHODSCats of 2-4 kg body weight were anaesthetized with amytal sodium, 170-200 mg, injected intraperitoneally, and tracheotomy was performed. For the withdrawal of blood samples a vinyl cannula, 0-90 mm external diameter x 0-45 mm bore, was passed into the inferior vena cava through the saphenous vein.Direct introduction of adrenaline into the cisterna magna The cistema was exposed by removing the muscles over the atlanto-occipital membrane and then incising the dura and arachnoid. To retain the cerebrospinal fluid, the cats were placed on the belly, in a head-down ('gargoyle') position, with full flexion of the atlantooccipital joint, which was elevated to make the cistema magna become the highest point in the subarachnoid space. The adrenaline, in various doses, was dropped directly into the cisterna, after removal of some of the cerebrospinal fluid. In some experiments, in order to prevent ready access of the adrenaline to either the dorsal, lateral, or ventral surfaces of the medulla or the junction between the medulla and spinal cord, the area to be excluded from the adrenaline was covered with blood clot. After removing the surrounding cerebrospinal fluid, fresh blood immediately followed by thrombin (Parke, Davis & Co.) was applied to the area. An adherent clot instantly formed. The posterior cranial fossa was then refilled