Abstract
Biologically active (non-protein-bound) cortisol levels in the plasma of 13 women taking oral contraceptives and of 67 normal subjects were compared, using a new method—steady-state gel filtration. Both total and unbound cortisol levels in the 67 normal subjects showed a skew distribution, which was roughly log-normal.
Unbound cortisol levels in 11 of the oestrogen-treated women were in the normal range, but the median value was significantly increased in this group. Total plasma cortisol levels in the oestrogen-treated group were, as expected, increased threefold, and all were outside the normal range.
Full text
PDF
Selected References
These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.
- Burke C. W. Accurate measurement of steroid-protein binding by steady-state gel filtration. Biochim Biophys Acta. 1969 Mar 4;176(2):403–413. doi: 10.1016/0005-2760(69)90199-4. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- COPE C. L., BLACK E. G. The reliability of some adrenal function tests. Br Med J. 1959 Nov 28;2(5160):1117–1122. doi: 10.1136/bmj.2.5160.1117. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- DOE R. P., FERNANDEZ R., SEAL U. S. MEASUREMENT OF CORTICOSTEROID-BINDING GLOBULIN IN MAN. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1964 Oct;24:1029–1039. doi: 10.1210/jcem-24-10-1029. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- DOE R. P., ZINNEMAN H. H., FLINK E. B., ULSTROM R. A. Significance of the concentration of nonprotein-bound plasma cortisol in normal subjects, Cushing's syndrome, pregnancy, and during estrogen therapy. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1960 Nov;20:1484–1492. doi: 10.1210/jcem-20-11-1484. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Doe R. P., Mellinger G. T., Swaim W. R., Seal U. S. Estrogen dosage effects on serum proteins: a longitudinal study. J Clin Endocrinol. 1967 Aug;27:1081–1086. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- LAYNE D. S., MEYER C. J., VAISHWANAR P. S., PINCUS G. The secretion and metabolism of cortisol and aldosterone in normal and in steroid-treated women. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1962 Feb;22:107–118. doi: 10.1210/jcem-22-2-107. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- MILLS I. H., SCHEDL H. P., CHEN P. S., Jr, BARTTER F. C. The effect of estrogen administration on the metabolism and protein binding of hydrocortisone. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1960 Apr;20:515–528. doi: 10.1210/jcem-20-4-515. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Matsui N., Plager J. E. In vitro physiological activity of protein-bound and unbound cortisol. Endocrinology. 1966 Jun;78(6):1159–1164. doi: 10.1210/endo-78-6-1159. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Murphy B. E. Some studies of the protein-binding of steroids and their application to the routine micro and ultramicro measurement of various steroids in body fluids by competitive protein-binding radioassay. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1967 Jul;27(7):973–990. doi: 10.1210/jcem-27-7-973. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Murray D. Cortisol binding to plasma proteins in man in health, stress and at death. J Endocrinol. 1967 Dec;39(4):571–591. doi: 10.1677/joe.0.0390571. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- PETERSON R. E., NOKES G., CHEN P. S., Jr, BLACK R. L. Estrogens and adrenocortical function in man. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1960 Apr;20:495–514. doi: 10.1210/jcem-20-4-495. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- PLAGER J. E., SCHMIDT K. G., STAUBITZ W. J. INCREASED UNBOUND CORTISOL IN THE PLASMA OF ESTROGEN-TREATED SUBJECTS. J Clin Invest. 1964 Jun;43:1066–1072. doi: 10.1172/JCI104990. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- SANDBERG A. A., SLAUNWHITE W. R., Jr Transcortin: a corticosteroid-binding protein of plasma. II. Levels in various conditions and the effects of estrogens. J Clin Invest. 1959 Aug;38(8):1290–1297. doi: 10.1172/JCI103904. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- SLAUNWHITE W. R., LOCKIE G. N., BACK N., SANDBERG A. A. Inactivity in vivo of transcortin-bound cortisol. Science. 1962 Mar 23;135(3508):1062–1063. doi: 10.1126/science.135.3508.1062. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]