Abstract
Summary
1) Slices from transplants of 2 secretory adrenocortical tumors were incubated with and without ACTH. Incubation mixtures were extracted and the total Δ4-3-ketosteroids quantitatively determined from peak optical densities at 242 mμ. Basal steroid secretion of the mouse and rat tumor slices averaged 2.6 and 1.9 μg equiv. cortisol/100 mg/2 hours respectively; with maximum stimulating amounts of ACTH, the average rates were 13.6 and 17.4 μg, respectively. Both tumors responded maximally to 2-3 mU of the hormone. 2) Under ACTH stimulation, corticosterone and 11β-hydroxy-Δ4-androstene-3,17-dione were produced in approximately equal amounts by the mouse adrenal tumors. However, 25-65% of the total Δ4-3-ketosteroids consisted of compounds still to be identified. The secretion of the rat adrenal tumor slices consisted mainly of corticosterone. 3) Glucose in the buffer stimulated the total steroid secretion of the mouse adrenal tumor slices about 40%. 4) An adrenal tumor that secreted gonadal hormones was incubated with and without ACTH. No measurable Δ4-3-ketosteroids were detected in the incubates.
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