176
JAMES K. GRANT
c. Trace Amounts of Adrenocortical Steroids. So far only the C 2 i
steroids present in major amount in the adrenocortical secretion have
been considered. Species differences have been reported in the corticoTABLE I
RATIO OF HYDROCORTISONE: CORTICOSTERONE IN ADRENAL VENOUS
BLOOD OF DIFFERENT SPECIES
Species
Monkey
Man
Sheep
Ox
Dog
Cat
Ferret
Rabbit
Rat
Mouse
Ratio
20
1-10
15-20
1
1.2-20
4-6
1.5
<0.05
<0.05
0
References
(48)
(49)
(48)
(48)
(48, 50)
(48)
(48)
(48, 51)
(48)
(52, 53)
steroids present in adrenal venous blood in trace amounts (Table II).
These differences may, however, be more apparent than real. The differences observed may depend on various factors including techniques
used, the size of blood samples available, and the state of stimulation
of the adrenal cortex by corticotropin. Moreover, since the substances
are present in trace amounts, they are usually detected by color tests
and "spot reactions" applied to paper chromatograms, and their identities cannot be considered to be well established.
d. The Rate of Secretion of Adrenocortical Steroids. This has been
studied in a few different species. A striking feature of the results is the
wide variation in rate found in one species. Thus in the dog some
workers (42, 48, 61, 62) have found rates varying from 1000 to 3600/xg.
per gram of gland per hour where others (63, 64) found lower rates
(120-700 ^g. per gram of gland per hour). Hechter's group (50) found
values ranging from 132 to 1022 pg. per gram of gland per hour in
samples drawn for 1 hour from the adrenal vein of eleven normal dogs,
selected at random, after they had recovered from the anesthetic given
for cannulation of the vein. It has been observed in the ox, calf (65),
man (66), and rat (67) that administered corticotropin causes an increased rate of blood flow through the adrenal gland.
The view that the amount of blood circulating through the gland
influences the corticosteroid output is supported by experiments in
which the method of perfusion of the cow adrenal was varied (54).
This gland is provided with numerous small arteries and usually one
JAMES K. GRANT
c. Trace Amounts of Adrenocortical Steroids. So far only the C 2 i
steroids present in major amount in the adrenocortical secretion have
been considered. Species differences have been reported in the corticoTABLE I
RATIO OF HYDROCORTISONE: CORTICOSTERONE IN ADRENAL VENOUS
BLOOD OF DIFFERENT SPECIES
Species
Monkey
Man
Sheep
Ox
Dog
Cat
Ferret
Rabbit
Rat
Mouse
Ratio
20
1-10
15-20
1
1.2-20
4-6
1.5
<0.05
<0.05
0
References
(48)
(49)
(48)
(48)
(48, 50)
(48)
(48)
(48, 51)
(48)
(52, 53)
steroids present in adrenal venous blood in trace amounts (Table II).
These differences may, however, be more apparent than real. The differences observed may depend on various factors including techniques
used, the size of blood samples available, and the state of stimulation
of the adrenal cortex by corticotropin. Moreover, since the substances
are present in trace amounts, they are usually detected by color tests
and "spot reactions" applied to paper chromatograms, and their identities cannot be considered to be well established.
d. The Rate of Secretion of Adrenocortical Steroids. This has been
studied in a few different species. A striking feature of the results is the
wide variation in rate found in one species. Thus in the dog some
workers (42, 48, 61, 62) have found rates varying from 1000 to 3600/xg.
per gram of gland per hour where others (63, 64) found lower rates
(120-700 ^g. per gram of gland per hour). Hechter's group (50) found
values ranging from 132 to 1022 pg. per gram of gland per hour in
samples drawn for 1 hour from the adrenal vein of eleven normal dogs,
selected at random, after they had recovered from the anesthetic given
for cannulation of the vein. It has been observed in the ox, calf (65),
man (66), and rat (67) that administered corticotropin causes an increased rate of blood flow through the adrenal gland.
The view that the amount of blood circulating through the gland
influences the corticosteroid output is supported by experiments in
which the method of perfusion of the cow adrenal was varied (54).
This gland is provided with numerous small arteries and usually one