Assessment of Adrenocortical Function

Abstract

OF the steroid hormones secreted by the human adrenal cortex into the adrenal venous effluent, only cortisol and aldosterone are essential to life processes. These steroids account for most of the biologic activity in the venous effluent, and they possess 21 carbon atoms and four or more oxygen atoms. Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) as a sulfate ester is the principal adrenal androgen and has 19 carbon atoms.Secretion and Metabolism of CortisolAdrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) is the sole physiologic agent known that will stimulate cortisol biosynthesis from the zona fasciculata of the adrenal cortex. A neurohormone, corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF), when elaborated by . . .