Steroids in Adrenal Venous Blood of the Dog: Venous-Arterial Differences Across the Adrenal.

Abstract

Concentrations of steroids in arterial and venous blood of the adrenal were determined. Those steroids whose concentrations in the blood are increased by passage through the gland are considered to be adrenal secretory products. Three steroids are consistently of adrenal origin: 17_hydroxycorticosterone, Fraction 8 and corticosterone. In 2 of 3 experiments 11-desoxy-17-hydroxy-corticosterone was contributed to the blood by the adrenal gland. A steroid less polar than corticosterone also appeared to be an adrenal secretory product in 2 of 3 experiments. Five substances are clearly not secreted by the adrenal gland, since they were found in the same concentrations in arterial blood as in adrenal venous blood. The status of 4 substances as adrenal secretory products has not been established. 17-hydroxycorticosterone and corticosterone, when added to arterial blood,are recovered with, out substantial alteration in the pattern of steroids present in such blood.