STUDIES ON THE BIO ASSAY OF HORMONES: THE USE OF RADIOSODIUM FOR THE DETECTION OF SMALL QUANTITIES OF DESOXYCORTICOSTERONE1

Abstract

Although the literature contains numerous references to methods for the evaluation of the influence of adrenal cortical steroids on sodium metabolism no simple method has been suggestedwhich is highly sensitive and reasonably reproducible. We have therefore examined the possibility of using radiosodium for such a method. This communication is concerned with the aspect ofsensitivity. The question of reproducibility is still under investigation. ANIMALS, MATERIALS, AND METHODS The male albino rats used for these studies were obtained from Carworth Farms in New City, New York. Some animals were bilaterally adrenalectomized in one stage under ether anaesthesia.All animals were exclusively fed a diet of Purina dog chow. If the period between adrenalectomy and the experimental run was more than 24 hours the operated animals received normal salineinstead of ordinary drinking water, until the morning of the experiment.