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A radioimmunoassay for human plasma corticosterone
Endocrinologia Japonica
|December 1, 1976
Summary
A new radioimmunoassay accurately measures human plasma corticosterone. This method shows corticosterone levels change more significantly than cortisol after ACTH and dexamethasone administration.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Biochemistry
- Assay Development
Background:
- Corticosterone is a key steroid hormone.
- Accurate measurement of plasma corticosterone is essential for endocrine research.
- Existing methods may have limitations in sensitivity or specificity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and validate a radioimmunoassay (RIA) for quantifying human plasma corticosterone.
- To compare the dynamic response of plasma corticosterone and cortisol to hormonal stimulation and suppression.
Main Methods:
- Production of specific antiserum against corticosterone in rabbits.
- Ether extraction of plasma followed by Sephadex LH-20 microcolumn chromatography.
- Validation of the RIA assay for precision and recovery.
Main Results:
- The developed RIA demonstrated good precision (inter-assay CV 7.7%, intra-assay CV 8.6%) with 51.2% recovery.
- Mean plasma corticosterone levels in normal subjects at 9 a.m. were 7.1 ± 3.2 ng/ml.
- Plasma corticosterone showed a greater relative increase after ACTH (5.2x) and decrease after dexamethasone (to 22.6%) compared to cortisol (2.4x and 12.3%, respectively).
Conclusions:
- A reliable radioimmunoassay for human plasma corticosterone has been established.
- This assay facilitates the study of corticosterone's role in human endocrine function.
- Plasma corticosterone exhibits a more pronounced dynamic response to ACTH and dexamethasone than cortisol.