The 17-hydroxycorticosteroids of parotid fluid, serum and urine following intramuscular administration of repository corticotropin.

Abstract

In healthy young adult males, the intramuscular injection of 40 i.u. of corticotropin produced the expected elevations in the levels of serum and urinary 17-hydroxycorticosteroids (17-OHCS). The level of 17-OHCS in parotid-gland fluid closely paralleled that in the serum. These data strengthen the premise that the level of free 17-OHCS in parotid-gland fluid may well be utilized in evaluating adrenocortical status. The use of this method permits continuous sampling of a completely nonstressful nature and, even in extremely close quarters where blood sampling is impossible, the subject can easily obtain specimens of his own parotid fluid.