Abstract
Summary
Continuous administration by vein of 300 mg of corticosterone daily for 48 hours to 2 normal men caused sharp rise in urinary aldosterone, retention of sodium, and depression of urinary 17-hydroxycorticosteroids the first day. On the second day aldosterone values began to fall, while sodium retention persisted and 17-hydroxysteroid output was negligible. During the recovery period aldosterone excretion remained below baseline levels for 2 or 3 days, whereas both profuse sodium diuresis and normal 17-hydroxycorticoid excretion appeared promptly on the first day. Essentially similar but less intense effects were exhibited by 1 patient who received 200 mg of corticosterone daily for 2 days. The data suggest that normal man is capable of performing 18-oxygenation of corticosterone to aldosterone. Should further study establish that this conversion occurs within the adrenal cortex, the tentative thesis will be fortified that corticosterone is a physiological precursor in the biosynthesis of aldosterone.
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