STUDIES IN STEROID METABOLISM. XXII. THE ADRENAL RESPONSE TO ACTH IN YOUNG AND OLD MEN 1

Abstract

The response of 2 young and 2 old men to continued ACTH admn. was studied by means of the extensive chemical and physical analytic techniques developed in this laboratory for isolation and quantitation of individual urinary steroids. This response was characterized by a prompt, sustained increase in urinary neutral steroids and the individual ketonic constituents of this group. This increase was greater relatively for those precursors and metabolites characterized by an 11-0 function, such as Kendall''s Compounds E and F, their "tetrahydro" derivatives, 11 ketoetiocholanolone, 11-hydroxyandrosterone, and 11_ hydroxyetiocholanolone. The increase in 11-desoxy 17-keto-steroids was relatively less and due primarily to increased excretion of etiocholanolone; irregularly there were increases in androsterone excretion. Although the response to ACTH may be characterized in general terms, there were striking qualitative and quantitative individual variations. From the 4 examples presented these variations appear little, if at all, related to chronologic age. They are attributed to the inherent biologic characteristics of the individual.