Metabolic and Anti-inflammatory Properties of 6-Methyl Prednisolone Alone and in Combination with Anabolic Hormones

Abstract

Anabolic hormones such as methyl testosterone and growth hormone did not counteract the over-all catabolic effects of methyl prednisolone on nitrogen metabolism nor on body weight retardation. When the average Medrol intake per rat was of the order of 0.24 mg/day, the rate of collagen synthesis as measured by the uptake of radioglycine was significantly depressed in the skin. Growth hormone, when given in combination with the above dose of Medrol, seemed to counteract the inhibitory effect of the latter on the newly forming collagen of the implanted sponges, as is evident by the greater net collagen present at the end of the experimental period. At the lower intake level (.074 mg/day) methyl prednisolone did not significantly inhibit collagen synthesis at either skin or sponge, although it decreased the weights of spleen and thymus. All the animals receiving Medrol decreased their efficiency for utilizing dietary protein. At the higher levels Medrol produced a significant rise in the serum glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase activity.