MISCIBLE POOL AND TURNOVER RATE OF CORTISOL IN AGED, AND VARIATIONS IN RELATION TO TIME OF DAY

The cortisol miscible pool and turnover rate in human subjects over 70 have been studied according to a single compartment method by means -3H cortisol. At 8 a.m. there was no appreciable difference between the values of distribution volume and miscible pool of H3-cortisol for the aged and those of the control. The mean fractional turnover rate and turnover rate were lower in old subjects, but the differences were not statistically significant (P > 0·5). In some cases the experiments were repeated at 8 p.m. The fractional turnover rate underwent no significant modification, while a normal decrease was observed in the distribution volume, the miscible pool and in the turnover rate. © 1969.