Δ 1 -Hydrocortisone and Hydrocortisone

Summary

The effects of orally and intravenously administered Δ¹-hydrocortisone and hydrocortisone on plasma 17-OHCS concentrations in the dog have been studied. Δ¹-Hydrocortisone produced higher and more prolonged plasma 17-OHCS elevations than did equivalent doses of hydrocortisone administered orally. The half-life of Δ¹-hydrocortisone was found to be 1.37 times that of hydrocortisone. Intravenous administration of these steroids as the hemisuccinates gave lower but somewhat more prolonged elevations in plasma 17-OHCS concentrations than the corresponding free alcohols. It was concluded that Δ¹-hydrocortisone was metabolized more slowly than hydrocortisone and suggested that this may explain, at least in part, the enhanced potency of the Δ¹-steroid.