CORRELATED STUDIES ON PLASMA FREE CORTICOSTERONE AND ON ADRENAL STEROID FORMATION RATE IN VITRO

Abstract

ABSTRACT The effects of various stimuli on the rate of formation of adrenal cortical hormones in vitro and on the plasma free corticosterone were studied in rats. First, a simple method for the determination of corticosterone in rat plasma is described which is based on the fluorescence of this steroid in sulfuric acid. In contrast to procedures described by other workers the present technique does not require expensive spectro-fluorometers, but can be performed using a simple fluorometric unit consisting of components which are generally available. The results obtained with the two methods have shown that the steroid formation rate in vitro and the plasma free corticosterone increases after formalin stress, environmental change and injection of corticotrophin. Hypophysectomy leads to a marked and rapid decline of adrenal activity in vitro and of the plasma free corticosterone.