title: High corticosteroid levels in plasma of adult and foetal Weddell seals (Leptonychotes weddelli).
abstract: Pregnant and non-pregnant Weddell seals and foetuses were found to have very high plasma concentrations of corticosteroids (1--7 mumol/l) that were unaffected by stress. Cortisol comprised most of the corticosteroid in the adult but only 50% of that in the foetus. The affinity constant (4.30-5.53 x 10(7) l/mol) and specificity of CBG and the MCR (4.5 l/d/kg lean body mass) in adult seals were similar to those of Man. The binding capacity of CBG (1.48--1.86 mumol/l) which is approximately three times that of Man contributed to the high plasma corticosteroid concentrations but the main factor was the cortisol turnover rate of 3670 mumol/d (1.3 g/d) which is the highest value reported in any species.
mesh_terms: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000097:blood*; D000818:Animals; D010872:Caniformia / Q000097:blood*; D002854:Chromatography, Paper; D005260:Female; D005470:Fluorometry; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D011247:Pregnancy; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D011987:Receptors, Steroid; D046048:Seals, Earless / Q000097:blood* / Q000196:embryology; D013045:Species Specificity; D014156:Transcortin / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D011987:Receptors, Steroid; D014156:Transcortin; D006854:Hydrocortisone