In vitro Studies on Distribution of Cortisol in Dog's Blood. ∗

Abstract

Summary

A series of in vitro experiments on the distribution of free cortisol between plasma and blood cells reveals that, 1) cortisol is rapidly taken up by blood cells at 37°C, 2) the amount associated with red blood cells is essentially equivalent to the per cent hematocrit, and 3) 17-OHCS can leave the cell and enter the plasma when the latter phase contains lower concentrations of these steroids. The results of these experiments suggest that the amount of free steroids associated with cells can be calculated from the analyses of plasma 17-OHCS and that the μg/100 ml blood are essentially similar to the μg/100 ml plasma.