It is well-known that adrenocortical secretory activity shows a characteristic oscillating course with a 24-h period. This is promoted by a corresponding circadian rhythm of corticotrophin (ACTH) secretion, normally related to the alteration of sleep with the waking state. In the urine, this phenomenon is expressed by a urinary steroid flow which rises during the morning hours reaching a maximum between 08.00 and 12.00 h and subsequently drops to its lowest level at about 24.00 h. It is thus possible to assess the effects on the adrenal cortex of a strictly physiological corticotrophic stimulus such as that to which the adrenal cortex is subjected during the early morning hours (Ceresa, Angeli, Boccuzzi et al. 1969, 1970). In fact, any qualitative change induced by endogenous ACTH in adrenal steroid secretory activity may be detected at the urinary level by variations of the metabolic pattern.
The present investigation was done in 16
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