Endocrinological Studies of Schizophrenia On the Urinary 17-ketosteroid and 17-hydroxycorticosteroid Ⅱ In the case of Schizophrenics

Determining the normal value, the author measured the daily excretions of total urinary 17-ketosteroid (17-KS) and total, free and conjugated forms of urinary 17-hydroxycorticosteroid (17-OHCS) of schizophrenics. The measuring methods used were those which described in Part Ⅰ. The urine specimens were collected from 51 cases, including male and female (ranging 16-58 year old of age, the average age 29 year old), which consist of acute, chronic and lobotomized schizophrenic groups. The following results were obtained. 1) Acute Schizophrenic group: Total urinary 17-KS was 5.8±0.5 mg/day for male and 4.4±0.5 mg/day for female; lower than normal value also that of chronic or lobotomized group. Total urinary 17-OHCS was 9.0±0.9 mg/day for male and 7.9±2.2 mg/day for female. This means elevation in total 17OHCS than normal value, chronic or lobotomized group. Above all, free form 17-EOHCS was 2.9±0.6 mg/day for male and 2.0±0.5 mg/day for female, which showed 2-3 times higher amount than normal, but not much difference to chronic or lobotomized group. Conjugated 17-OHCS was 6.2±0.6 mg/day for male and 5.9±1.9 mg/day for female; almost equal to normal value and higher than chronic or lobotomized groups. 2) Chronic Schizophrenic group: Total urinary 17-KS was 7.3±0.6 mg/day for male and 5.5±1.3 mg/day for female; higher than acute group and lower than normal or lobotomized group. Total urinary 17-OHCS was 6.6±0.7 mg/day for male and 5.2±1.1 mg/day for female; the values were almost same as normal. Free form was 2.6±0.3 mg/day for male and 2.1±0.6 mg/day for female; 2 times or more higher than normal but not much difference to other groups of schizophrenics. Conjugated form was 3.9±0.5 mg/day for male and 3.0±0.7 mg/day for female; lower than normal and other groups of schizophrenics. 3) Lobotomized Schizophrenic group: Total urinary 17-KS was 8.7±1.5 mg/day; higher than normal and other groups of schizophrenics. Total urinary 17-OHCS was 6.8±1.3 mg/day; almost equal to normal. Free form was 3.0±0.6 mg/day; elevated than normal but not much increase than other groups. Conjugated form was 3.9±0.7 mg/day: decreased than normal. 4) From the results of this study, it can be hardly recognized the correlation between the fluctuations of 17-KS and 17-OHCS on the different groups of schizophrenics. From the viewpoint of fluctuation of 17-OHCS which is thought to reflect the adrenal function, the steroid pattern showed slight tendencies to hyper-function, hypo-function and normal function in acute, chronic and lchotmoized schizophrenics respectively. The characteristic change on urinary steroids of schizophrenics was the increased excretion of free form of 17-OHCS; this lowered the ratio of conjugated form/free form and the percentage of conjugated form/total. The author put the consideration on process of schizophrenics from the view point of homeostasis and the effect of biologically active 17-OHCS to mental phenomena.