Abstract
Summary
(1) Meticorten and Meticortelone, 2 new steroids, were studied in animals to assess their adrenocortical activities. (2) Glucocorticoid properties were assayed by the eosinophil response in adrenalectomized mice, by the liver glycogen deposition in adrenalectomized rats, and by the involution of the thymus in immature rats. (3) By all 3 methods, the glucocorticoid activity of Meticorten and Meticortelone was found to be 3 to 4 times greater than that of cortisone and hydrocortisone. (4) Meticorten and Meticortelone were more active than cortisone and hydrocortisone in maintaining the life of immature, male, adrenalectomized rats. (5) Prolonged administration of Meticorten, Meticortelone, cortisone and hydrocortisone to young, male rats produced the following biological changes: a) suppression of somatic growth, b) decrease in thymus, spleen and adrenal weights on an absolute basis as well as per 100 g body weight, c) increase in the relative weights of liver, kidney, testes, thyroid and pituitary and inconsistent changes in the weight of the seminal vesicles, d) inversion of the lymphocyte/polymorphonuclear leukocyte ratio in the circulating blood without consistent changes in total white cell count or hematocrit. (6) Meticorten and Meticortelone were more potent than cortisone and hydrocortisone in affecting organ weights and peripheral blood elements. (7) The changes induced by prolonged administration of the 4 steroids were readily reversible after cessation of treatment.
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