STEROIDS IN THE BLOOD AND URINE OF FEMALE MICE BEARING AN ACTH-PRODUCING PITUITARY TUMOR1

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Abstract
It has been reported that female LAF1 mice bearing an ACTH-producing tumor exhibit symptoms somewhat resembling those of Cushing''s disease in humans (1). The blood serum and urine of these mice have now been analyzed for steroid compounds in an effort to ascertain the nature of the adrenocortical secretion. Cortisol and its metabolites retaining the phenylhydrazine reacting side chain were present only in traces or absent in both serum and urine, despite the prolonged action of endogenous ACTH. Cortico-sterone appeared to be the major corticoid of serum, while in urine the most abundant C21 steroid could have been a metabolite of corticosterone. The concentration of C19 steroids in serum was roughly equal to that of corticosterone, whereas in urine it was forty times the corticoid total. The predominating urinary steroids were C19O3 compounds. Two constituents of this type which were isolated were most probably 11[beta]-hydroxy- & 4-androstene-3,17-dione and its saturated analogue 11[beta]-hydroxy-androstane (or etiocholane)-3,17-dione. Unknown C19O2 steroids were also present in urine, but neither dehydroepiandrosterone, androsterone, nor etiocholanolone was found. Thus 11[beta]-hydroxy- [DELTA]4-androstene-3,17-dione was probably the major adrenal product; corticosterone and possibly other steroids were secreted to a lesser extent.