Metabolism of Cortisol by the Human Adrenal Cortexin Vitro1

Abstract

The derivatives of cortisol produced in vitro by human adrenal cortex from patients with carcinona of the breast and Cushing''s syndrome after incubation of slices with 4-C14-cortisol are described, and a comparison is made with the metabolites produced by liver slices. Quantitatively, oxidation of the 11[beta]-hydroxyl to cortisone and also reduction of the C-20 ketone were important and were common to both adrenal and liver. Of special interest was the isolation of 2[alpha]-hydroxycortisol from adrenal incubates but not from liver. Small quantities of 6[beta]-hydroxycortisol were synthesized by the adrenal cortex, but the liver was much more active in the production of this compound. No difference was seen in the pattern of cortisol metabolism between adrenal cortex from patients with carcinoma of the breast and the adrenal hyperplasia of Cushing''s syndrome.