[Individual characteristics of the organization of the human endocrine system]

Individual features of the endocrine system were studied in 26 healthy men, divided into 2 groups, according to the characteristics of EEG, electrocutaneous thresholds and the time response (TR) upon sound signals of 40 to 120 decibels. The subjects of the 1st group were characterized by the high energy of EEG delta- and theta-rhythms, low energy of alpha-rhythm, low thresholds and TR40 : TR120 ratio. The patients of the 2nd group had the opposite parameters. In both groups the blood plasma and urine catecholamine content, ACTH, TTH, 11-hydroxycorticosteroids, cortisol, aldosterone, thyroxine, triiodothyronine, testosterone and plasmatic insulin were determined by means of spectrofluorometry and radioimmunoassay. The elevation of the cortisol level after ACTH injection and of the TTH concentration following thyroliberin administration were investigated. Two polar variants of the endocrine system organization were revealed. The patients of the 1st group had an elevated activity of the sympathico-adrenal, hypophyseal-adrenal system and insular apparatus, comparatively lowered activity of the hypophyseal-thyroid system and gonads. The subjects of the 2nd group demonstrated an opposite character of the endocrine system. It is suggested that the individual peculiarities of the human endocrine system promote the development of obesity, Icenko-Cushing's disease, hypertension, thyrotoxicosis, acromegaly and bronchial asthma.