Chemical and clinical endocrinology of Aldosterone

It is less than 30 years ago that the first extracts of the adrenal cortex were used experimentally to prolong life in adrenalectomized animalsl and purified extracts ('cortin') were employed in ca es of Addison's disease. While the use of 'cortin' and subsequently desoxycorticosterone (synthesized in 1937) was accepted substitution therapy, it was well established that the 'amorphous fraction' of the adrenal extract or whole adrenal preparations had more potent action on organic and mineral metabolism in adrenal insufficiency than crystalline preparations. Further, when cortisone and cortisol became available 10 years ago, it was soon evident that doses adequate to normalize organic metabolism lacked capacity to maintain normal salt metabolism