We have applied the radioimmunoassay to determine concomitantly the AGTH and cortisol levels in human plasma

in 4 normal subjects

4 patients with "Deficiency of Kidney Yang" and 3 patients with endocrine disorders.The result obtained by our study showed that the values of AGTH and cortisol in the plasma of normal individuals were between 22.3—98.3pg/ml and 8.0—18.0/μg/ 100ml respectively. The plasma levels curve obtained in a normal person for the cortisol circadian rhythm was V-shaped.In the group of patients with "Deficiency of Kidney Yang"

the plasma levels of AGTH and cortisol both were significantly lower than those of the normal group

and the cortisol circadian rhythm showed nearly flat pattern.In the 2 cases of Addison’s disease

the levels of AGTH increased appreciably to 571.4 and 952.8pg/ml respectively

but the cortisol levels were low

and the cortisol circadian rhythm became N-shaped. The plasma level of ACTH in a case of Cushing’s syndrome proved to be adrenal tumor onoperation was in normal range

whereas the cortisoi levels were abnormally high

the usual cortisol circadian rhythm was very much disturbed.From this study

it has been showed that the concomitant determinations of ACTH and cortisol in plasma can reflect the Hypothalamus-Pituitary-Adrenal cortical system function

and it is helpful in differential diagnosis.