INVITRO GLUCOCORTICOSTEROID AND MINERALOCORTICOSTEROID BIOSYNTHESIS IN CONN ADENOMA TISSUES

The in vitro metabolism of [1,2-H-3] deoxycorticosterone (DOC), [1,2-H-3] 18-hydroxy-11-deoxycorticosterone (18-OHDOC) and [1,2-H-3] 11-deoxycortisol (S) was studied in adrenal adenoma homogenates from patients with primary hyperaldosteronism. Tumor tissues actively converted deoxycorticosterone and 18-hydroxy-11-deoxycorticosterone to 18-hydroxycorticosterone and aldosterone. Yields of cortisol and cortisone were also large showing that the tissues did not lack the zona fasciculata-like 11beta-hydroxylation ability.