[Functional state of the cortical and medullary layers of the adrenals in primary arterial hypotension].

The functional state of the cortical and medullar layers of the adrenal glands was studied in 127 patients with primary arterial hypotension (109 females and 18 males, aged 17 to 48 years). As shown by daily urine excretion, hypotonic patients had a decreased basal activity of the glucocorticoid and androgenic function of the adrenal cortex in comparison with those in normal individuals. The potential of the adrenal cortex was preserved in these patients within sufficient limits. The adrenocorticotrophic function of the anterior lobe of the pituitary gland was found to decrease. Against the background of a reduction of the total excretion of all fractions a relative delay was noted in the process of glucocorticoids transformation into their precursors, as well as a relative predominance of glucocorticoids over mineralcorticoids, the content of desoxycorticosterone being reduced especially low. The content of adrenalin, noradrenaline and dophamine was below the normal level, the decrease being statistically significant. At the same time the excretion of DOPA was normal, on the average, the whole group of patients. The changes in the daily urine excretion of catecholamines and DOPA, as well as in their ratio indicate that the activity of both links of the sympathodrenal system is reduced in primary arterial hypotension.