From the History of Endocrinology: Reminiscence of the Discovery of Adrenocortical Hormones

Overview

In the article authors describe the milestones in history of discoveries of the adrenocortical hormones. Preparation of the adrenal extract cortine was the first experimental contribution. Cortine prolonged life of animals whose adrenals have been removed and had beneficial effects in patients with Addison disease (AD). It was mixture of compounds comprising carbon, hydrogen and oxygen that belong to the steroids. From those deoxycorticosterone had impact on mineral metabolism, substances that Kendall termed as compounds A, B, E, and F influenced metabolism of saccharides and proteins. In 1929 Dr. Hench had observed that the painful symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) were relieved in a patient who developed jaundice and in 1931 he remarked favourable effects of pregnancy to the course of RA. He suggested that some agent (substance X) was present during jaundice and in pregnancy through that the symptoms of RA were relieved. In 1941 interest concerned to the compound A, however, this was almost ineffective in patients with AD. In 1948 compound E was successfully administered to patients with AD and RA for the first time. Concerning the relation between vitamin E Kendall and Hench gave compound E distinctive name cortisone. Consequently it was confirmed that compound F (hydrocortisone) is the final product of the adrenal cortex. Appreciating the work of the most significant groups was awarding the Nobel Prize to Edward Kendall, Tadeusz Reichstein and Philip Hench in 1950. 

Key words:
history, hormones, adrenal, cortex, Nobel Prize.