METABOLISM OF THE STEROID HORMONES. ADRENAL CORTICAL-LIKE MATERIAL IN HUMAN URINE1

Abstract

IT HAS BEEN established from recent studies in this laboratory that an extract may be obtained from the urine of normal men which has physiological properties identical with those of adrenal cortical compounds. The extract shows the following activities when tested on the adrenalectomized rat: it protects against exposure to cold (Dorfman, Horwitt and Fish, 1942); it elevates liver glycogen (Horwitt and Dorfman, 1943); it maintains life (Dorfman and Horwitt, 1943); it prolongs muscle work performance (Shipley, Dorfman and Horwitt,1943); and it prevents water intoxication (Schiller and Dorfman, 1943). Evidence that-urine contains adrenal cortical-like material was brought forward by the finding of Perla and Marmorsten-Gottesman (1931) that a benzene extract of human urine would increase the resistance of adrenalectomized rats to histamine. Shortly afterward, Grollman and Firor (1932–33) reported that benzene soluble material obtained from urine wouldprolong life when administered to adrenalectomized rats.