The Effect of Corticosteroid Injection on Aldosterone Secretion1

THE isolation of aldosterone from adrenal extracts (Simpson and coworkers, 1953; Mattox and Mason, 1953; Knauff, Nielson and Haines, 1953) and the demonstration of its presence in the adrenal effluent (Simpson, Tait and Bush, 1952; Farrell and co-workers, 1953, 1954) have aroused interest as to its role in normal physiology and the factors which regulate its secretion. Much is known as to its biological activity (Swingle and coworkers, 1954; Gaunt and co-workers, 1954; Gross and Gysel, 1954). The urinary content of the steriod has been the subject of considerable study and has been found to be altered in a variety of pathological conditions (Singer and Venning, 1953; Singer and Wener, 1953; Luetscher and Johnson, 1954; Luetscher, Neher and Wettstein, 1954; Cope and Garcia-Llaurado, 1954; Gordon and co-workers, 1954; Axelrad and co-workers, 1955; Neher and Wettstein, 1955). Although these studies suggest a role for aldosterone in disease states, the definitive physiological mechanism which regulates the rate of secretion of this important steroid has remained obscure.