[Results of endocrinologic studies of the 3d international crew of the scientific orbital station complex: Soyuz 29 - Salyut 6 - Soyuz 31 (joint space flight enterprise of the USSR - GDR). 3. Corticosteroid excretion in urine].

In the present study the attempt was made to evaluate the functional state of the adrenal cortex after space flight by means of the urinary corticosteroid content. The urine collected over 24 hours was analysed. The following parameters were determined: Total 17-hydroxycorticosteroids (17-OHCS), their free forms, glucuronides and sulphates; cortisol (F), cortisone (E), corticosterone (B), 11-desoxycortisol (S), 11-dehydrocorticosterone (A), tetrahydrocortisol (THF), tetrahydrocortisone (THE), tetrahydrocorticosterone (THB), tetrahydro-11-desoxycortisol (THS), and aldosterone. In order to characterize the activity of the 11-hydroxylase the quotient of THS + S/THF + F + THE + E was formed. The activity of the 17-hydroxylase was determined indirectly by the quotient of THF + THE + THS + F + E + S/THB + B + A = 17-OHCS/17-DOHCS. The expected distinct increase of the 17-OHCS after the space flight failed to appear. This finding may be due to an adrenocortical dysfunction. In the space ship commander the quotients indicate a reduced 11- and 17-hydroxylation during the process of synthesis of the glucocorticoids. In the flight engineer they give evidence of an unchanged biosynthesis except on the day of landing. A hitherto not fully intensified substance ("white spot") was found in the chromatogram of the space ship commander on the first and second day after the flight. Moreover, the investigations show that the reaction of the adrenal cortex after space flights exhibits a number of individual characteristics.