STIMULATION OF RAT ADRENOCORTICAL SECRETION BY A FACTOR PRESENT IN HUMAN URINE

Abstract
Production of corticosteroids by the rat adrenal gland has been studied in vitro. Both a commercial and a highly purified preparation of ACTH stimulated the secretion of "corticosterone" and aldosterone in vitro. The "corticosterone" fraction was increased more than aldosterone. Addition of the non-ultrafilterable fraction of human urine to the incubate stimulated the secretion of aldosterone more than "corticosterone". Several possible interpretations of this effect are discussed.