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EFFECT OF THE SYNTHETIC POLYPEPTIDE 1-24 (SYNACTHEN) ON ADRENOCORTICAL FUNCTION
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1966
Year
On Adrenocortical FunctionNeuroendocrinologyGlucocorticoidPlasma CorticosteroidsIntegrative PhysiologyAdrenal GlandPituitary GlandNeuroendocrine MechanismClinical ChemistryPituitary ActhHealth SciencesFunctional ReserveAdrenal DiseaseNervous SystemEndocrinologyPharmacologyNeuromuscular PhysiologyClinical DisordersPhysiologyNeuroendocrine DisorderCentral Nervous SystemMedicineNeuropeptides
The rise in plasma corticosteroid concentration after the administration of corticotrophin (ACTH) is an index of the functional reserve of the adrenal cortex (Eik-Nes, Sandberg, Nelson, Tyler, & Samuels, 1954). A synthetic polypeptide β1–24 (Synacthen, Ciba) containing the amino acids 1–24 of the 39 found in pituitary ACTH (Kappeler & Schwyzer, 1961) is as active in stimulating the adrenal as corticotrophin (Landon, James, Cryer, Wynn & Frankland, 1964; Ohlsen & Hökfelt, 1965; Wood, Frankland, James & Landon, 1965). Wood et al. (1965) have shown that the rise in plasma corticosteroids (Mattingly, 1962) 30 min. after the i.m. administration of 250 μg. Synacthen can be used as a measure of adrenocortical reserve. We report our experience with this test carried out between 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. in two groups of hospital patients. Group I comprised 21 women and nine men, aged from 20 to 73 yr. (mean age 46