Advances in the field of adrenal cortical hormones

Aldosterone and Renal Potassium Excretion

“…By 1956 several reviews of the action of aldosterone had been published [31,34,52,53,55,93] which contained prominent state ments indicating that one physiologic role of aldosterone was the regulation of potas sium balance by enhancing renal potassium excretion. An examination of the published reports on which these early statements were based shows: (1) only small quantities of aldosterone were available for experimental use up to 1956 and the number of experi ments performed and subjects treated with aldosterone were relatively few; (2) aldoste rone almost uniformly had a sodium-retain ing effect when administered, and (3) the effects of aldosterone administration on po tassium metabolism were at times reported only in terms of changes in plasma potas sium concentration [83,84], In those few reports made prior to 1956 in which aldosterone was administered and in which renal potassium excretion was measured or was calculatable from sodium excretion and urinary Na/K ratios, the re sults do not appear to support a conclusion that aldosterone acted to increase potassium excretion.…”

Retardation of Sodium Exchange in Dog Erythrocytes by Physiological Concentrations of Aldosterone, in Vitro*

“…The normal plasma levels of aldosterone in human subjects have been found to be from 0.2 to 2.0 pg per L (17,18), whereas the plasma level in the blood of cattle was even higher, 3.5 jag per L (19). Since aldosterone secretion rates are reported to be at least as high in dogs, 0.216 to 0.513 pg per kg per hour (20), as in man, plasma concentrations of the steroid in peripheral blood might be' expected to be similar in these two species.…”

Aldosterone—a Review*

“…Biologic work with aldosterone has been impeded by the fact that only trivial amounts (45-95 jug-/Kg. in beef adrenals) exist in adrenal extracts (123) and these can be isolated in pure form only at great expense. Wettstein, Kahnt and Neher (124) found that the yield from beef adrenal brei could be enhanced several fold by aerobic incubation with substrates of the citric-acid cycle, such as nicotinamide, adenosine triphosphate (ATP), or ascorbic acid.…”

“…Wettstein (123) has recently reviewed the chemical background of the whole problem. Biologic work with aldosterone has been impeded by the fact that only trivial amounts (45-95 jug-/Kg.…”