Circulating and urinary cortisol, ACTH & HGH levels of normal Myanmar subjects

ABSTRACT

Cortisol, adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), human growth hormone (HGH), overnight urinary cortisol and HGH levels were measured in 31 apparently normal healthy volunteers (21 males and 10 females) at the Thayawady Township Hospital. Measurement of circulating hormonal levels was performed by using commercial radioimmunoassay kits. All volunteers were admitted to the hospital for a period of 48 hours and cortisol, ACTH, HGH were measured four times in 24 hours (900 hr, 12 noon, 18 hr and 24 hr) consecutively for 48 hours. Overnight urinary cortisol and HGH levels were also measured after a protein load was given on the second night. Serum ACTH level was 15.82 uU/L (range 0.02 to 150.0 uU/L) and the average 24 hour serum HGH level was 7.55 mU/L (range 0.01 to 37.0 mU/L). Serum cortisol was found to be in the range of 21.0 nmol/L to 700.0 nmol/L with a 24 hr average of 227.95 nmol/L. Overnight urinary cortisol and HGH ranged from 0.089 to 27.7 ug and 4.0 to 230 uU respectively.