Spontaneous conversions to aldosterone

Abstract

Corticosterone (B) and a less polar form or derivative of 18-hydroxycorticosterone obtained by dissolving the mother-steroid in 0.01 N HCl, (L), were assayed as precursors to aldosterone in: 1) samples only containing buffer (C); 2) samples containing buffer and boiled adrenal tissue (phi); 3) samples containing surviving quartered rat adrenals (G). The yields of aldosterone from B were the following: 1.24% in sample (C); 0.21% in sample pHI; and 5.03% in sample (G). The yields of aldosterone from L were the following: 2.66 % in sample (C); 2.30% in sample (phi) ; and 2.47% in sample (G). A factor inhibiting the conversion of B, but not of L, to aldosterone was present in samples containing boiled tissue.