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Adrenal venous and peripheral blood was collected from three Tasmanian devils and three Eastern native cats.

Ten ⁴-3-oxosteroids were identified in the adrenal venous blood of the devils and nine from the native cats. Cortisol was the major steroid and its maximum corticotrophin (ACTH) stimulated secretion rate averaged 61 µg/h/100 mg adrenal in devils and 36 µg in cats. The cortisol: corticosterone ratio in two devils and two cats was approx. 2·5 and 5, respectively. Aldosterone secretion rates in devils ranged from 0·06 to 0·12 µg/h/100 mg adrenal and in cats from 0·12 to 0·93, the response to ACTH varied in different animals. 21-Deoxycortisol was found in all animals, it increased during ACTH stimulation (maximum range in devils: 8·5–19·5 µg/h/100 mg adrenal, and 0·6–5·4 in cats). Another unusual steroid isolated from adrenal venous blood was identified as 17-hydroxy-20β-dihydroprogesterone. Its rate of secretion was higher in devils (range approx. 2–6 µg/h/100 mg adrenal). No relationship was found between adrenal blood flow and corticosteroid secretion. In the peripheral blood plasma only cortisol and corticosterone were identified. The female of both species had a significantly higher concentration of cortisol of the order of 7 µg/100 ml plasma. The combined adrenal weights/kg body weight averaged 168 mg/kg in the devils and 132 mg in the cats.

Since all three Superfamilies of Australian marsupials have now been investigated a comparison of the results obtained from seven representative species is made and they are also considered in relation to eutherian mammals.