QUANTITATIVE ESTIMATION OF ADRENOCORTICAL HORMONES AND THEIR α-KETOLIC METABOLITES IN URINE

Abstract

ABSTRACT A method for estimating urinary corticosteroid patterns is described. Normal 24-hour excretion values for tetrahydrocortisol (THF), allo-tetrahydrocortisol (allo-THF), tetrahydrocortisone (THE), cortisone (E), cortisol (F), tetrahydro-11-deoxycortisol (THS), tetrahydrocorticosterone (THB), allotetrahydrocorticosterone (allo-THB), tetrahydro-11-dehydrocorticosterone (THA), 11-dehydrocorticosterone (A), corticosterone (B) and aldosterone, as well as some calculated ratios are reported. The α-ketolic tetrahydrometabolites of cortisol include 25 per cent THF, 10 per cent allo-THF and 65 per cent THE. The mean THF/THE-ratio is 0.4, the mean F/E-ratio 0.8. The α-ketolic tetrahydrometabolites of corticosterone include 35 per cent THB, 35 per cent allo-THB and 30 per cent THA. The mean THB/THA-ratio is 1.2, the mean B/A-ratio 2.0. These figures seem to indicate that conversion of corticosterone to its 11-dehydrometabolites (B → A → THA) is less important than the corresponding metabolic pathway for cortisol (F →E →THE). Assuming that excretion reflects secretion, it is calculated that the adrenals secrete about 7 times as much cortisol as corticosterone and that about 1–3 per cent of the cortisol precursor Reichstein's S is secreted before 17-hydroxylation has been accomplished.