Abstract
Regular occurrence of Reichstein's substances E and U as free steroids in urine of normal subjects receiving neither exogenous cortisol nor ACTH, is demonstrated autoradiographically on thin-layer chromatograms after the intravenous administration of tracer doses of 4-14C-cortisol. A relatively simple method for the determination of these steroids as well as cortols and cortolones using periodic acid oxidation and thin-layer chromatographic separation is described. Mean normal values without correction were: Reichstein's substance E 140.3μg, Reichstein's substance U 122.4μg, cortols 431.0μg and cortolones 1156.0μg per 24 hrs.
