QUANTITATIVE ESTIMATION OF ADRENOCORTICAL HORMONES AND THEIR α-KETOLIC METABOLITES IN URINE

Abstract

A method for estimating urinary cortico-steroid patterns is described. Normal 24-hour excretion values for tetrahydrocortisol (THF), allotetrahydrocortisol (allo-THF), tetra-hydrocortisone (THE), cortisone (E), cortisol (F), tetrahydro-11-deoxycortisol (THS), tetrahydrocorticosterone (TUB), allotetrahydro-corticosterone (allo-THB), tetrahydro-11-dehydrocorticosterone (THA), 11-dehydrocorticosterone (A), corticosterone (B) and aldosterone, as well as some calculated ratios are reported. The a-ketolic tetra-hydrometabolites of cortisol include 25% THF, 10% allo-THF and 65% THE. The mean THF/THE-ratio is 0.4, the mean F/E-ratio 0.8. The a-ketolic tetrahydrometabolites of corticosterone include 35% THB, 35% allo-THB and 30% THA. The mean THB/THA-ratio is 1.2, the mean B/A-ratio 2.0. These figures seem to indicate that conversion of corticosterone to its 11-dehydrometabolites (B[forward arrow]A[forward arrow]THA) is less important than the corresponding metabolic pathway for cortisol (F[forward arrow]E[forward arrow]THE). Assuming that excretion reflects secretion, it is calculated that the adrenals secrete about 7 times as much cortisol as corticosterone and that about 1-3 percent of the cortisol precursor Reichstein''s S is secreted before 17-hydroxylation has been accomplished. Approximately 38% of the groupwise estimated total 17-hydroxy-corticosteroids can be accounted for by the sum of individually estimated 17-hydroxycorticosteroids. The fact that steroid excretion patterns can be influenced not only by abnormal production but also by abnormal metabolism of the hormones is illustrated by the increased excretion of unchanged hormones in addition to a decreased excretion of tetrahydrometabolites in patients with damaged liver function.