FURTHER CONSIDERATIONS ON THE CALCULATIONS OF SECRETION RATES. A CORRECTION

Abstract

ABSTRACT Reconsideration of the question of the validity of the calculations of the secretion rates from the specificity activity of a urinary metabolite after the single injection of a radioactive hormone has led us to conclude that the basic equations used in a previous theoretical treatment are not generally applicable to the nonisotopic steady state if the radioactive steroid and hormone are introduced into the same compartment. If this is so, in a two compartmental model with metabolism occurring in both pools, it is now shown that the calculation (S = R — τ) is rigorously valid if certain precautions are taken. This is in contrast to the previous treatment which concluded (in certain special circumstances) that the calculation might not be correct. However, if the hormone is secreted in both compartments and the radioactive steroid is injected into only one, then the calculation (S = R — τ) may not be correct in certain circumstances as was previously concluded (Laumas et al. 1961).