RENAL AND ADRENAL MECHANISMS OF SALT CONSERVATION: THE EXCRETION OF URINARY FORMALDEHYDOGENIC STEROIDS AND 17-KETOSTEROIDS DURING SALT DEPRIVATION AND DESOXYCORTICOSTERONE ADMINISTRATION 1

Abstract

Adrenal function was measured by the excretion of formaldehydogenic steroids and by 17-ketosteroids in 5 patients over periods of from 1 to 3 months in order to determine the importance of the adrenal gland in the physiologic conservation of salt under conditions of salt deficiency. No evidence of increased adrenal activity could be obtained even after long periods of deficient Na intake. This physiologic salt conservation was compared to the increased Na reabsorption which follows the admn. of desoxycorticosterone acetate and large doses of adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH). The possibility exists that there is an adrenocortical "salt" hormone, the release of which is independent of ACTH and which is not measured by existing methods. Alternatively, an "idiorenal" mechanism can explain the existing data whereby the kidney provided with a requisite constant supply of adrenal hormone is able to regulate the excretion of Na by purely intrinsic processes.