Abstract
Summary
The biological half-life of endogenous ACTH in blood of the adrenalectomized rat is approximately one minute (0.95 and 1.25 minutes for 2 experiments). No appreciable loss of biological activity occurs when adrenalectomized rat blood is incubated in vitro for one minute at 37°C. The rapid disappearance of ACTH from the blood of the adrenalectomized rat one minute after removal of the adenohypophysis cannot be attributed to inactivation of the hormone by blood itself.
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