Kerrigan J R, Veldhuis J D, Leyo S A, Iranmanesh A, Rogol A D
Department of Pediatrics, University of Virginia Health Sciences Center, Charlottesville 22908.
J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1993 Jun;76(6):1505-10. doi: 10.1210/jcem.76.6.8501158.
To investigate daily cortisol production and clearance rates in a group (n = 18) of normal unstressed pubertal males, we applied deconvolution analysis to serum cortisol concentrations obtained every 20 min for 24 h. Subject-specific characterization of adrenocortical secretory episodes, cortisol production rate, and serum hormone half-life for nine early pubertal (Tanner I or II; early) and nine late pubertal (Tanner IV or V; late) subjects was undertaken to assess potential roles of sexual maturation and changing gonadal steroid hormone concentrations on glucocorticoid physiology. The estimated cortisol production rate for the early group [16.8 +/- 1.3 mumol/m2 x day (6.1 +/- 0.4 mg/m2 x day)] was indistinguishable from that of the late subjects [14.8 +/- 1.4 mumol/m2 x day (5.3 +/- 0.5 mg/m2 x day)]. No differences were observed between the two pubertal groups in the secretory burst frequency and half-duration, mass of cortisol released per secretory episode, average maximal rate of hormone secretion, and serum cortisol half-life. A significant diurnal pattern of cortisol secretion was observed for all subjects manifest by nyctohemeral variations in the frequency of adrenocortical secretory bursts, the amplitude (maximal rate of cortisol secretion) and the mass of cortisol released per secretory episode. Maximum serum hormone concentrations occurred between 0706 and 1114 h. We conclude that in normal pubertal males: 1) cortisol production rates as estimated by deconvolution analysis are in agreement with other recent independent isotopic estimates, but are lower than many previous estimates; 2) the rise in serum gonadal steroid hormone levels is unassociated with alterations in the production rate or metabolic clearance of cortisol; and 3) increased secretory burst frequency, increased amplitude (maximal rate of cortisol secretion attained within each secretory event), and increased mass of cortisol released per adrenocortical secretory episode give rise to the normal diurnal rhythm of circulating cortisol.
为了研究一组（n = 18）正常未受应激的青春期男性的每日皮质醇生成和清除率，我们对每20分钟采集一次、共24小时的血清皮质醇浓度进行了反卷积分析。对9名青春期早期（坦纳I或II期；早期）和9名青春期晚期（坦纳IV或V期；晚期）受试者的肾上腺皮质分泌事件、皮质醇生成率和血清激素半衰期进行个体特异性表征，以评估性成熟和性腺类固醇激素浓度变化对糖皮质激素生理学的潜在作用。早期组的估计皮质醇生成率[16.8±1.3 μmol/m²·天（6.1±0.4 mg/m²·天）]与晚期受试者[14.8±1.4 μmol/m²·天（5.3±0.5 mg/m²·天）]无显著差异。在分泌突发频率和半持续时间、每个分泌事件释放的皮质醇量、激素分泌的平均最大速率以及血清皮质醇半衰期方面，两个青春期组之间未观察到差异。所有受试者均观察到明显的皮质醇分泌昼夜模式，表现为肾上腺皮质分泌突发频率、幅度（皮质醇分泌的最大速率）和每个分泌事件释放的皮质醇量的昼夜变化。血清激素最高浓度出现在0706至1114时之间。我们得出结论，在正常青春期男性中：1）通过反卷积分析估计的皮质醇生成率与最近其他独立的同位素估计值一致，但低于许多先前的估计值；2）血清性腺类固醇激素水平的升高与皮质醇生成率或代谢清除率的改变无关；3）分泌突发频率增加、幅度增加（每个分泌事件中达到的皮质醇分泌最大速率）以及每个肾上腺皮质分泌事件释放的皮质醇量增加导致循环皮质醇的正常昼夜节律。
