THE STABILITY OF ENDOGENOUS AND EXOGENOUS CORTICOTROPHIN IN RAT PLASMA AS ESTABLISHED BY A BIOASSAY IN INTACT RATS

Abstract

SUMMARY Corticotrophin (ACTH) activity in rat plasma, both endogenous (adrenalectomized rat plasma) and exogenous (International Working Standard, 1962), has been assayed in dexamethasone-treated rats and the stability studied under various conditions of storage. Exogenous ACTH added to rat plasma and assayed immediately had only 76% of the activity of the same ACTH dissolved in gelatine acid saline medium. This difference is ascribed to the effects of the medium and not to inactivation. When allowance was made for the effects of the medium on potency, added ACTH showed a similar stability on incubation or storage to endogenous ACTH. For endogenous ACTH the following loss of activity was found in vitro: after 45 min. at 37°, 64%; after 1 day at room temperature, more than 85%; after 1 day at 3°, 58%. No loss of potency was detected on storage at −17° for 18 months. It is concluded that plasma can be frozen, stored at low temperature, and thawed without significant loss of corticotrophic potency provided that the blood is chilled as soon as drawn and the subsequent operations performed expeditiously.