A METHOD OF ASSAYING ADRENAL CORTICAL HORMONES BASED ON A DECREASE IN THE CIRCULATING EOSINOPHIL CELLS OF ADRENALECTOMIZED MICE1

Abstract

THERE is a growing demand at the present time for a relatively quick bioassay procedure for the 11-oxycorticosteroid hormones of the adrenal cortex. Since 1930 numerous assay procedures have been proposed, based upon survival, growth, resistance or glycogen deposition of adrenalectomized animals, as well as specific target responses such as the muscle work test. These procedures have recently been compared (Thayer 1946; Dorfman 1949; Sayers 1950). However, the numerous modifications of each procedure and the general lack of agreement on any one procedure clearly indicate that a satisfactory assay has not yet been found and accepted. The following paper includes some of the data and results accumulated over a period of 2 years. These results led the authors to propose an assay procedure in adrenalectomized mice based upon a decrease in the number of circulating eosinopliil cells following a subcutaneous injection of an adrenal cortical steroid (Speirs and Meyer, 1949 and 1950). This procedure appears to be highly sensitive