Effects of corticotrophin and choriogonadotrophin on urinary cyclic adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate.

The actions of exogenous corticotrophin (ACTH) and human choriogonadotrophin (HCG) were assessed by measuring cyclic adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate (cAMP), 17-ketosteroids (17-KS), 17-ketogenic steroids (17-KGS), androsterone (A), etiocholanolone (E), dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and pregnanetriol (P3) in 24 h urine. ACTH was infused intravenously into six healthy women. A dexamethasone (DXM) suppression test was also performed, and continued when HCG was injected intramuscularly. The effects of intramuscular injection of ACTH and administration of DXM on urinary cAMP, 17-KS and 17-KGS were also studied in an adrenalectomized and ovariectomized patient. ACTH, 250 microgram (25 i.u.), increased excretion of cAMP in the healthy women and also in the patient. In the six controls there was a simultaneous normal increase in 17-KS, 17-KGS, A, E, DHEA and P3 excretion. DXM did not cause the excretion of cAMP to fall below the basal level in any of the subjects examined but the excretion of all the steroids studied decreased significantly. The only effect of HCG was to increase P3 excretion. The results indicate that the increment in cAMP is probably related to an extra-adrenal effect regulated by ACTH.