Plasma Concentrations and Rates of Plasma Clearance and Production of Cortisol and Corticosterone in Healthy Persons and in Subjects with Asymptomatic and Clinical Diabetes Mellitus

Abstract

In three groups of persons, 1) 19 healthy individuals, 2) nine patients with asymptomatic diabetes mellitus, and 3) eight patients with clinical diabetes mellitus, the plasma c1earance rates (CR) of cortisol and corticosterone were estimated simultaneously by means of an intravenous infusion of a tracer dose of both tritium labeled hormones at a constant rate until a steady state was reached (constant infusion technique). The plasma concentrations (C) of each of the two endogenous hormones were measured separately with a fluorometric method. The plasma production rates (PR) of both hormones were then calculated and correlated to body surface. Compared to the values in the normal group the mean PR's of cortisol in both diabetic groups were not lignificantly elevated statistically though they were augmented. The elevations of the PR's of corticosterone were significant in Group 2 and highly significant in Group 3. Besides the gluconeogenetic action of the two augmented hormones, their action on potassium excretion is discussed. It is also pointed out that the possible depletion of potassium in the beta cells of the pancreas could be related to the pathological insulin secretion and the impaired carbohydrate tolerance in asymptomatic and c1inical diabetes mellitus.Horm. Metab. Res. 2: 357-363 (1970) K e y -W 0 r d s: Dißbetes -Cortisol -CorticosteroneProduction Rates.

Daily Cortisol Production Rate in Man Determined by Stable Isotope Dilution/Mass Spectrometry

“…The current mean daily FPR of 27.3 ± 7.5 /*mol/day (9.9 ± 2.7 mg/day) or 15.7 /unol/day-m 2 (5.7 mg/m 2 -day) determined in 12 normal volunteers is significantly lower than the FPR reported by previous investigators (1-8). However, this value is closer to that reported by other investigators (11)(12)(13). As expected, FPR varied during the day, with the peak production rate between 0400-0800 h, and the nadir between 2000-2400 h. The pattern of circadian variation in FPR in normal subjects has not been reported previously due to the limiting factor of radiation exposure.…”

“…fluorometry) (2,(8)(9)(10). It is noteworthy that some investigators have reported lower values of FPR using radiotracers (11)(12)(13).…”

ABCC1 confers tissue-specific sensitivity to cortisol versus corticosterone: A rationale for safer glucocorticoid replacement therapy

“…The magnitude of the effect of ABCC1 on steroid export appears to be substantial, with a 3-4 fold increase in intracellular corticosterone when ABCC1 is inhibited in SGBS cells, and a 2-fold increase in adipose corticosterone in vivo in mice. In a physiological context, if the plasma glucocorticoid pool is comprised of 90-95% cortisol and 5-10% corticosterone, as reported in previous studies (10,13,(23)(24)(25)(26)(27)(28)(29)(30)(31)(32) (table S3), the total (cortisol plus corticosterone) intra-adipose glucocorticoid pool may be reduced by as much as ~7% as a result of ABCC1 activity. In a pathological context, we hypothesized that reduction of adipose ABCC1 in obesity might contribute to metabolic dysregulation through increased intra-adipose corticosterone.…”

The Concentrations of Total Cortisol and Corticosterone in Mixed Cord Plasma

“…In children only scant information i s available. Our results correspond best to the values reported by Ferrante (8) and Huther & Scholz (15). The former author used protein binding, the latter fluorimetry as end-point.…”