Steroid Formation by Adrenal Tissue from Hypertensives1

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Abstract
Steroid formation by human adrenal tissue obtained at operation from 3 normotensive cancer-free patients, 8 carcinoma patients and 23 hypertensive patients has been studied. Slices of adrenal tissue were agitated in the autologous plasms at 37[degree]C with and without added corticotropin and in the presence of 5% CO2, and 95% O2. The steroids were extracted from the incubator and separated by paper chromatography. Similar assays were done on adrenal vein blood samples. The steroids have been situated on the chromatograms in 5 main areas designated as"before F", F position, E- and B regions and [DELTA]4 androstene-ll-[beta]-ol-3,17-dlone. The latter steroid and compounds F and B have been identified. The rate of steroid formation per unit weight of hypertensive gland decreased with increasing diastolic blood pressure, i.e. with increasing diastolic blood pressure, i.e. with increasing severity of hypertension. The decline was associated with a fall of F/B ratio since hydrocortisone formation diminished more than the synthesis of "B" region steroids. In the less severe hypertensives the rate of formation of all steroids except [DELTA]4 androstene-11-[beta]-ol-3, 17-dione was about twice that in the normotensive cancer group, while in advanced hypertension only [beta]-region steroid formation was augmented. An increase in adrenal weight was associated with the increased diastolic blood pressure and apparently compensated in part for the reduction of steroid formation per unit weight of tissue.