URINARY EXCRETION OF CATECHOLAMINES IN VARIOUS SITUATIONS

Urinary excretion of adrenaline and noradrenaline was measured in human subjects in various situations. It was found that the catecholamine excretion increased in some of these situations. The increase of adrenaline exc1etion was about 400% during giving birth, 130% in a mental work 80% in tilting of posture, and 30% in monotonous light work, and the increase of noradrenaline excretion was about 130% in tilting of posture, 60% in heavy physical work, and 20% on the first day of mental work, compared to each control value. From these findings, it was concluded that adrenaline excretion is elevated in mental or emotional strains and that the quantity of increased adrenaline might be roughly proportional to the degree of the strain. Noradrenaline excretion was also thought to have a connection with emotion though to a less extent than adrenaline excretion. It was tentatively considered that passive emotion or mental strains induce the increase of adrenaline excretion and active emotion or physical strains are accompanied by the increase of noradrenaline outpu