CORTICOSTEROID RELEASE AND SYNTHESIS IN VITRO BY ADRENAL SLICES FROM PATIENTS WITH CUSHING'S SYNDROME*

Abstract

Production of corticosteroids by adrenal slices from one patient with mild hypertension, one with malignant hypertension and four with Cushing''s syndrome was studied. The adrenal slices produced cortisol, cortisone, corticosterone, 11-deoxycortisol and aldosterone, responded to ACTH stimulation and incorporated radioactive precursors into biological compounds. Three adenomas responded to ACTH in vitro. The rates of production of the Cushingoid tissue did not differ significantly from atrophic, normal and hypertensive tissue. However, because of the larger size of the Cushing-oid tissue, the total production of steroid per gland was much greater. The incorporation studies suggest that a portion of cortisol is synthesized by a pathway which does not involve progesterone.. The major pathway for aldosterone biosynthesis is through corticosterone.