Aldosterone and the mobilization of energy.

Aldosterone diminishes the ability to endure starvation. Its exogenous administration to adrenalectomized rats advances the onset of hypothermia and death. The impairment seems to lie in an inability to mobilize energy stores fully: animals given the steroid are unable to lose weight at a normal rate. The findings help to establish the significance of mineralocorticoids in the regulation of energy exchange and solve some theoretical questions as to their general mode of action.