K. Iki et al., THE ACTIVITIES OF 5-BETA-REDUCTASE AND 11-BETA-HYDROXYSTEROID DEHYDROGENASE IN ESSENTIAL-HYPERTENSION, Steroids, 59(11), 1994, pp. 656-660
The activities of 11 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase(11 beta-HSD) an
d 5 beta-reductase were analyzed in 39 normotensive controls and 128 p
atients with essential hypertension. The activity of 11 beta-HSD was o
btained by dividing the 24-hour urinary tetrahydrocortisone by the sum
of tetrahydrocortisol (THF) and allo-tetrahydrocortisol (aTHF), where
as the activity of 5 beta-reductase was obtained by dividing the 24-ho
ur urinary THF by aTHF. The activity of 5 beta-reductase was significa
ntly lower in essential hypertensives compared with normotensive contr
ols (P < 0.05). However, the activity of 11 beta-HSD did not differ be
tween normotensive controls and essential hypertensives. A positive co
rrelation between the activities of 11 beta-HSD and 5 beta-reductase w
as observed in essential hypertensives (r = 0.60, P < 0.01). Neither 1
1 beta-HSD nor 5 beta-reductase activity correlated with indices of re
nal mineralocorticoid receptor activation, which were assessed by dete
rmination of plasma potassium and urinary excretion of sodium as well
as potassium. Taken together, these results suggest that disturbances
of one of the inactivation pathways of cortisol may contribute to the
pathogenesis of hypertension.