Effect of graded doses of acth on parotid fluid corticosteroid levels

Abstract

Parotid fluid and serum free 17-hydroxycorticosteroids were measured in eighty apparently normal young adult males who received graded intramuscular doses of ACTH-gel ranging from 2.5 to 20 units. Parotid fluid steroid levels increased significantly at one hour after dosage for subjects receiving 5, 10, or 20 units of ACTH. For the two latter groups the levels remained significantly elevated at 2 hr after ACTH. Serum free 17-OHCS levels at 2 hr after dosage increased steadily with the increase in amount of ACTH administered. These results substantiate the premise that parotid fluid steroid levels may be employed to assess adrenocortical status. They also indicate that the presently employed two hour test period may be reduced to 1 hr, and that the ACTH-gel dosage may be decreased from 40 to 20 units.