The effect of adrenal cortical hormones on electrolyte excretion.

Abstract

The importance of tile adrenal cortex in influencing sodium and potassium metabolism is well established. The adrenal cortex secretes a number of steroid hormones which affect sodium and potassium excretion to varying degrees. The hormone which is the most potent in its sodium retaining effect is aldosterone. It promotes the sodium reabsorption for the exchange of potassium or hydrogen ion in the distal tubules of the kidney. There are several problems which are not well understood, e.g. the physiological importance of the rate of secretion of various steroids, the synergistic or antagonistic action of various adrenal cortical hormones on the absorption, distribution and excretion of electrolyte and their interplay with each other