Adrenocortical response to stress in newborn infants.

More than half of the deaths occurring under the age of 12 years take place during the first week of life, and the term 'biochemical death' is sometimes used where an adequate pathological explanation cannot be found at necropsy. Following the pioneer work of Selye (1936), which drew attention to the prominent role of the adrenal cortex in the endocrine response to stress, it became established that an increased secretion of corticosteroids occurred in adults under conditions of stress, and that, in some unknown manner, such hormonal activity was essential to the well-being and even to the survival of the subjects in such circumstances.