Abstract
A fluorometric method in combination with the silica gel column chromatography by Sweat for the estimation of cortical hormones was reinvestigated under a slight modification by the author. And with specimens of human being and some animals, normal values were given by this method.
The fluorogenic substances contained in the fractions of human, rat and guinea-pig plasma, were analysed further by the paper chromatography, and the following results were obtained;
a) In human being the so-called Cpd F-like substance appears to indicate practically the level of hydrocortisone itself, but in the so-called Cpd B-like substance, somewhat other substances besides a small amount of corticosterone are contained.
b) In rat plasma corticosterone made the chief component of the so-called Cpd B-like substance in which the presence of a small amount of Reichstein's Substance S was also detected.
c) In guinea-pig plasma hydrocortisone, which is detectable in the Cpd Ffraction, appears to be the major cortical hormone; corticosterone and the other known active principles were not found in the Cpd B-fraction.
